Values-based, tactical, blended – why do donors support community philanthropy? Join the conversation!
22 Mar 2017
Is community philanthropy a means to an end or a end in itself? Drawing on interviews with various donors currently supporting community philanthropy and / or community driven development, a new report by Susan Wilkinson-Maposa seeks to explore some of the institutional and strategic motivations behind their investments and to encourage a more open discussion among funders and practitioners about strategy and effectiveness.
The inquiry explains that funders are attracted to community philanthropy for different reasons which can be understood using a spectrum that ranges from “values-based” at one end, “blended” in the middle and “tactical or strategic” at the other. In addition, it outlines six cornerstones of practice which could serve to guide donor support for community philanthropy, as well as some guidelines for community philanthropy support organizations, such as the production of evidence that addresses different donor interests.
Do you represent a donor organization that supports community philanthropy? Do these findings ring true? What kinds of supports would strengthen your work, whether in terms of implementation or measurement?
Do you represent a community philanthropy organization? Do your donors see your work in the same way that you do? What kind of support would help you to make the case for community philanthropy among current or potential donors?