Caring to Change sought new notions about how grantmaking might better serve a foundation’s mission while holding even broader benefit – helping it to be more effective at creating a better world. Building on the commentary and ideas of both foundation leaders and of those not often involved fully in setting strategy, particularly younger staff and people of color, we found that that the “Common Good” best organized and expressed the wisdom and the longing of those engaged by the project.
After offering information on the background of the project, Foundations for the Common Good explores the notion of the Common Good and its value base, argues that it is by serving the Common Good that foundations can be truly role-driven in realizing philanthropy’s full potential, and suggests three broad strategies, with specific notions under each, that flow from the project’s findings. Appended to the essay are lists of those involved and a summary of their critique of grantmaking, further detail on methodology and a fuller discussion of the Common Good. Also appended are a PowerPoint presentation used with interviewees, and a Chronicle of Philanthropy Opinion piece.
You can download a copy of the report here.
Here’s a link to a podcast Mark Rosenman did for the Chronicle of Philanthropy about the project.
The Philanthropy Journal also covered it here and the Mott Foundation linked to it through facebook.