Creating Philanthropic Capital Markets
The Deliberate Evolution
Chapter One
The Industry of Philanthropy
The sweat of industry would dry and die
But for the end it works to.
-William Shakespeare, Cymbeline
Philanthropy-at its most basic-is the process of sharing private resources
for public benefit. The activities it encompasses range from volunteering
time to strategically investing endowed resources in socially
responsible index funds to giving time and money together. All of these activities
involve "putting something in" to make something better "come
out." This can be expressed as an incredibly simple equation:
philanthropic inputs + existing conditions = better outcomes for others
This deliberate oversimplification is important in helping us locate the industrial
elements of philanthropy. The equation in its entirety, including the
final sum-"better outcomes"-captures both the public purpose of the industry
and the extent to which philanthropy is part of its surroundings ("existing
conditions"). Philanthropic actions are not about profit or outcomes
for the giver, but are actions taken in pursuit of something for others ... read full excerpt from Creating Philanthropic Capital Markets: The Deliberate Evolution ebook
