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May 04, 2008

Council on Foundations
The Power of Philanthropy

Philanthropy around the world has the advantage of “unprecedented resources” and an “unprecedented pool of knowledge, “ Geoff Mulgan, director of the Young Foundation, in London, told a group of foundation chief executives and trustees gathered at a meeting for foundation presidents and trustees held Sunday morning before the official start of the council meeting.

“If you want to fix something in San Francisco or Cleveland, you can get ideas from Finland or Brazil about what works,” he said, noting that it is only in the past decade or so that information could so easily be shared.

Even with more money and information available, the challenges facing donors are daunting, he acknowledged — but he said that should not intimidate grant makers.

“It is the difficulty of the challenge that gives us the edge, the reason for being,” he said.

Grant makers seeking to make a difference should focus on pressing needs, he said, and take a long view in seeking change, not just financing programs that will produce quick results.

“You do not have to worry about polls or quarterly results, as politicians and business do,” said Mr. Mulgan, who previously worked as a top aide to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Collaboration is also key to success, he said, but he warned that American foundations need to be careful to use their power with as sense of humility.

Adapting the words of William Shakespeare, he noted that “it is marvelous to have a giant’s strength, but not to use it like a giant.”

He noted that concerns have already been raised about the size of America’s foundations — especially the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which combines the fortune of Warren Buffett with that of the founder of Microsoft — and said “we need to be careful that partnerships not become too big and squeeze out space for competition and innovation.”

But, he said, in general, foundations in Britain and elsewhere “would love to see more American foundations collaborate with organizations around the world.”

Taking a pause, he added, “just as we would like to see your government collaborate more.” That last exhortation received the biggest round of applause from the assembled crowd.

— Stacy Palmer

Sunday May 4, 2008 | Permalink

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