An essential part of scaling impact is talking about it widely and engaging in dialogue. Below is a sampling of commissioned research and independent writing done to support and push the field of social change.
Going Beyond Giving
Perspectives on the philanthropic practices of high and ultra-high net worth donors
The Philanthropy Workshop, with funding from the Raikes Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, commissioned Strategy for Scale to conduct 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. Their responses raised provocative questions about the power of philanthropy to transform an individual’s investment decision about giving to tangible social change.
The Philanthropy Workshop. November 2017
The Giving Code: Silicon Valley Nonprofits and Philanthropy
Why are local community-based organizations struggling to meet demand in one of the wealthiest and most sophisticated regions in the country? Why aren’t more Silicon Valley philanthropists directing their dollars toward local organizations and issues and why hasn’t more entrepreneurial ingenuity made its way to solving community challenges? This research, authored by Alexa Culwell and Heather McCleod Grant, provides a holistic portrait of the region’s nonprofit and philanthropy ecosystems.
*Strategy for Scale provided input and editorial support, as well as shared research from previous work. October 2016
Five Lessons for New Philanthropists
Before tackling complex social problems, new philanthropists should consider what current philanthropists have learned
about how to “hack.”
Stanford Social Innovation Review online. July 2015
Philanthropy's New Release
Reflections on the changing philanthropic landscape in Silicon Valley, supported by the Sobrato Family Foundation.
Stanford Social Innovation Review online. December 2014
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
It's Not All About Growth for Social Enterprises
Organizational size can often be correlated to maturity, but it doesn't necessarily translate to real impact: if the service, curriculum, or product the organization offers has significant influence on the problem it aims to solve. 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. Unless they make this transition, the organizations that entrepreneurs worked so hard to create are unlikely to scale up or accomplish the desired impact. Independent research done in partnership with Chantal Laurie Below to explore what kind of leadership scaling organizations need.
Stanford Social Innovation Review. October 2010
Going Beyond Giving
Perspectives on the philanthropic practices of high and ultra-high net worth donors
The Philanthropy Workshop, with funding from the Raikes Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, commissioned Strategy for Scale to conduct 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. Their responses raised provocative questions about the power of philanthropy to transform an individual’s investment decision about giving to tangible social change.
The Philanthropy Workshop. November 2017
- Download Paul Sullivan's "Wealth Matters" column, "Forming a Picture of the New Philanthropist," published in advance of the report's formal release in the Saturday, November 11, 2017 business section of The New York Times.
- Read "Inside the Minds of Wealthy Donors", a column published on Inside Philanthropy by David Callahan.
- Read "For For Big Philanthropists, Advice From Family and Peers Is Still Key to Giving, Study Finds" written by Timothy Sandoval of The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
The Giving Code: Silicon Valley Nonprofits and Philanthropy
Why are local community-based organizations struggling to meet demand in one of the wealthiest and most sophisticated regions in the country? Why aren’t more Silicon Valley philanthropists directing their dollars toward local organizations and issues and why hasn’t more entrepreneurial ingenuity made its way to solving community challenges? This research, authored by Alexa Culwell and Heather McCleod Grant, provides a holistic portrait of the region’s nonprofit and philanthropy ecosystems.
*Strategy for Scale provided input and editorial support, as well as shared research from previous work. October 2016
Five Lessons for New Philanthropists
Before tackling complex social problems, new philanthropists should consider what current philanthropists have learned
about how to “hack.”
Stanford Social Innovation Review online. July 2015
Philanthropy's New Release
Reflections on the changing philanthropic landscape in Silicon Valley, supported by the Sobrato Family Foundation.
Stanford Social Innovation Review online. December 2014
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
It's Not All About Growth for Social Enterprises
Organizational size can often be correlated to maturity, but it doesn't necessarily translate to real impact: if the service, curriculum, or product the organization offers has significant influence on the problem it aims to solve. 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. Unless they make this transition, the organizations that entrepreneurs worked so hard to create are unlikely to scale up or accomplish the desired impact. Independent research done in partnership with Chantal Laurie Below to explore what kind of leadership scaling organizations need.
Stanford Social Innovation Review. October 2010