Philanthropy in the 21st Century:Three Trends, Three Challenges, Three Opportunities

Melissa A. Berman |February 25, 2014

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ABOUT RPA• MISSION: to help donors create thoughtful,

effective philanthropy throughout the world

• HERITAGE: Traces roots to John D. Rockefeller Sr. in 1891; now one of the world’s largest philanthropic service organizations

• EXPERIENCE: Overseen more than $3 billion to date in grantmaking across the globe

• ORGANIZATION: Independent nonprofit with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco

• STAFF: Senior staff experienced foundation program officers and nonprofit leaders

WHAT WE DO

• Provide research, planning, strategy and advisory services for

donors

• Manage philanthropic programs and foundations

• Serve as fiscal sponsor for projects supported by private

foundations, individuals and other donors

• Write, speak and publish on philanthropic issues

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Part I: Innovations in Giving: Three Trends in Private Philanthropy

DEEPINVOLVEMENT

NEW WAYS TO FUND

SOLUTIONS-BASED

APPROACHES

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Trend #1: Solutions-based Approaches

• Big bets

• Systems thinking

• Measuring results

• Looking for leverage

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IMPACT INVESTING

GIVING WHILE LIVING

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS

Trend #2: New Ways to Fund

Trend #3: Deep Involvement

• Earlier start

• Research-driven

• Diving in

• Looking for leaders

• More than money

• Collaboration

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Part II: Challenges in Giving: Three Puzzles

FRAGMENTATIONGETTING TO SCALE ASSESSING RESULTS

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Puzzle #1: Tracking ROI and Impact

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Puzzle #2: Taking Solutions to Scale

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Puzzle #3: Fragmentation

• Precious Snowflake Syndrome

• Voluntary actors

• Emphasis on individualism

• Poor information, communication

• Proliferation

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Part III: Framing our Opportunities

SEIZE THE MOMENT

STEP OUT OF SILOSDECLARE

OVERHEADDEAD

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CONTACT INFORMATION

NEW YORK 6 West 48th Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036 Phone: 212-812-4330 Fax: 212-812-4335

CHICAGO 980 North Michigan Ave, Suite 1120 Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312-324-0742 Fax: 312-445-8739

LOS ANGELES 6300 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 820 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Phone: 323-658-4200 Fax: 323-658-4205 SAN FRANCISCO 575 Market Street, Suite 3625San Francisco, CA 94105Phone: 415- 543-0733Fax: 415-543-0735

WWW.ROCKPA.ORG

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