RESEARCH

Research & Writing


We conduct commissioned and original research to investigate trends and identify patterns in philanthropy. We believe that philanthropy and the social sector are a marketplace in its nascency, with new entrants, approaches and emerging dynamics to observe. We research and write to join the vibrant conversation about this moment in philanthropy.


Our current research includes inquiry on donor activation, trends in collaboration and funds, and new methods of wayfinding to match philanthropic supply and demand. Below is a sampling of commissioned research and independent writing.

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Philanthropic Trends

Insights on current philanthropy and what the future may hold

Philanthropy is undergoing a marked transition. Some of this is driven by the significant wealth transfer that will happen within the next two decades, which Cerulli Associates estimates at $124 trillion. Within this moment of transfer we are seeing shifts in governance, operational approach and grantmaking styles. And, there are significant numbers of families bringing new wealth into the fold, and with it new approaches to giving while living: consider the over 1,000 billionaires in the U.S. alone. Combine this with ecosystem changes in structures and the field is much more complex than it was even twenty years ago. We are exploring what the trends are, what they mean and how we may shed light on new ways of operating in this new reality.

  • Read Inflection Points in Family Philanthropy, an exploration for donors who want to accelerate progress on their philanthropic ambitions — increasing both their giving and their impact — while maintaining a lean operational structure and ensuring they feel joy in the work.

Collaboratives as a Philanthropic Asset Class

The benefits, challenges, and potential of collaborative philanthropy

Collaborative funds are the investment funds of philanthropy — expert-led pooled vehicles that aggregate and deploy philanthropic resources from multiple donors. Within philanthropy, they’re getting a lot of attention, but externally, few know of them. We argue that these funds are the future of philanthropy and that it’s far past time when every donor should consider including them in their philanthropic portfolio. This piece lays out the value proposition of collaboratives, including existing literature and new donor stories, before exploring barriers to take up and opportunities to advance the field. It draws on insights from a 150-person workshop at last year’s Global Summit of Collaborative Funds and findings from two new donor surveys.

Wayfinding

Building better navigation infrastructure to activate philanthropy with a focus on philanthropic advisors

Unprecedented levels of wealth are creating substantial opportunities for high-impact philanthropic giving. However, there are persistent limits to actual deployment of resources, despite societal and environmental demand. From 2021-2023, in partnership with the Global Development Incubator, Schmidt Futures, the Bridgespan Group, Philanthropy Together, P150 and three bold individual philanthropists, we conducted interviews, surveys, focus groups and technology pilots. The research showed that the philanthropic sector is ripe for better navigation infrastructure (ways to understand issues and find what to fund), specifically for philanthropic advisors who own the trusted relationship with donors and are playing increasingly important roles in lean-staffed large philanthropies.

Going Beyond Giving

Perspectives on the philanthropic practices of high and ultra-high net worth donors

The Philanthropy Workshop (now Forward Global), with funding from the Raikes Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, commissioned research to understand the experiences, practices, and behaviors of high and ultra-high net worth philanthropists. The research included an electronic survey of over 200 individuals (November 2017). Their responses raised provocative questions about the power of philanthropy to transform an individual’s investment decision about giving to tangible social change.

The New Donors of Silicon Valley

Insights on a new wave of donors changing the philanthropic landscape

Reflections on Social Entrepreneurship

Insights on scaling organizations and impact

  • It's Not All About Growth for Social Enterprises. The question is not how do you grow organizations, but how do you scale impact? Independent research based on the Skoll Foundation portfolio. Harvard Business Review online. (January 2013)

  • Freeing the Social Entrepreneur. Social entrepreneurs are often reluctant to relinquish control and empower strong leadership teams. Making this transition is critical to scaling and accomplishing the desired impact. Independent research done in partnership with Chantal Laurie Below. Stanford Social Innovation Review. (October 2010)

Delivering Health. Care Redefined.

A commissioned work intended to capture the collective view of a group of innovative organizations working on global health; the models they individually espouse and are scaling hold powerful evidence for an expanded and more effective healthcare delivery system. The paper presents the organizations' framework for system change, moving the model from one of sick care to one promoting health. (April 2014)

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“I love how your perspective combines the intellectual with the realistic, merging frameworks and structure with actual lived experience. We don't have enough of that kind of thinking in philanthropy!”

— Colleague