Strategic Giving: The Art and Science of Philanthropy

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is good, well written, and includes lots of thought. Clearly much time was spent writing it.This book is not for the philanthropist who merely gives a little. And it is not a guide for major donors who want to give effectively and in an informed and strategic way. Instead, this book is for major donors to read and learn more about the donor world that exists today. It provides a comprehensive theoretical framework of that world along with analysis.I just got done reading Tracy Gary's "Inspired Philanthropy" written in 2002 (ISBN: 0787964107) which covers the same subject material, but in a different perspective. Instead of going heavy on the theoretical framework of the donor world as Frumkin does, Gary provides a guide to creating one's "giving plan." In a way I think "Inspired Philanthropy" and "Strategic Giving" are companion books even though different authors write them. By reading Frumkin's book along with Gary's book major donors can BETTER create a giving plan.The book has the following 10 chapters:1. Philanthropy and the Public Sector2. Central Problems in Philanthropy3. Donors and Professionals4. The Idea of Strategic Giving5. Dimensions of Philanthropic Value6. Logic Models: Theories of Change, Leverage and Scale7. Institutions and Vehicles8. Giving Styles9. Time Frames for Giving10. Measuring, Knowing and ActingI found the first three chapters to be my favorite. It is where the author explains that the nonprofit sector lacks much accountability and thus donors who donate blindly may be throwing their money into black holes. Maybe enough people will read the book and try to effectuate change so there will be more accountability in the future?Chapters 4 through 10 are the chapters that seriously supplement Gary's book by providing prose on the art and science of philanthropy. If you are a major donor, then seriously consider giving both these books a read. You won't be disappointed. 5 stars!

This book addresses the key issues of targetting your recipient. The book U.N. a Cosa Nostra demonstrates how wrong good intentions can turn out when applied to the wrong charity... U.N. a Cosa Nostra: The workings of an organization 'helping' the poorest of the world (Volume 1)L'Empire De La Honte (Le Livre de Poche) (French Edition)

Highly recommended reading: esp. chapter 2 which addresses critical areas in philanthropy: effectiveness, accountability, legitimacy. The empirical scope is US only but very much up to date (and Europeans like me expect somewhat similar developments in our countries, so we can learn lots from current US discourses).It's a relief to see themes addressed with some clarity that are often talked about, but - since they really ARE difficult and touch on sensitive power issues - tend to get washed over: what really is effectiveness for a foundation? A donor? Does it lie mostly with the grantees' effectiveness? Frumkin's emphasis on "mission effectiveness" points to a more comprehensive, and more honest, self evaluation.Or: who are donors and foundations accountable to? What would such accountability consist of? Just transparency? How could peer accountability be achieved?On the positive side, what are the advantages in a field of activity based on voluntary acts, how can pitfalls be avoided and these advantages be strengthened?One question mark: Frumkin does mention social change funding trends ("alternative funds") that take accountability and legitimacy very seriously and, e.g., stressed funding eye to eye with the fundations' constituencies, but he relegates them to the past. Is he not aware of the women's funding movement? WFN now has 128 member organizations with $450 mio. working assets and, more importantly, involving thousands and thousands of staff and volunteers in social change giving. Here in Germany we register steady interest in this funding model which provides relatively good answers to the issues Frumkin puts his finger on.