The Rockefeller Foundation | Bellagio Center

The Bellagio Center 

Changing the Way We Solve Global Problems

Learn about conferences and residencies that promote innovative, collaborative solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges.

ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center's mission is to promote innovation and identify impact-oriented solutions to critical global problems. The Center, through conferences and residency programs, supports the work of scholars, artists, thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners who share in the Foundation’s pioneering mission to “promote the well-being of humanity.” The Center has a record of major impact, from meetings that led to the Green Revolution and the Global AIDS vaccine initiative, to residencies that furthered the work of Glenn Ligon. This legacy, the serene work environment on the shore of Lake Como in northern Italy, the diverse groups of people, and the promise of future achievements make Bellagio an inspiring and productive forum for fostering positive change.

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 29, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Up for Debate | Shifting a Funding Paradigm

Strategic Philanthropy
By John Kania, Mark Kramer, & Patty Russell

To solve today's complex social problems, foundations need to shift from the prevailing model of strategic philanthropy that attempts to predict outcomes to an emergent model that better fits the realities of creating social change in a complex world.

Response of Kia Khan

One aspect that could be usefully explored by the authors in future work is the challenge of establishing accountability when using emergent strategy to address complex problems. When is the failure to realize goals a natural outcome of working in a complex system, and when is it due to poor implementation? Defining management approaches for addressing this tension when working on complex problems would help make the valuable ideas in this article even more useful to practitioners.

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 29, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Is it protection from or enabling dysfunction?

When good intentions go very, very wrong 

New momentum has been growing to create activist organizations that defend nonprofits from public attacks and from regulations and laws they believe would harm their operations.

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 13, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Philanthropy is . . . .

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 9, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Philanthropy in Action

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 9, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Philanthropy's Mystery Angels

Mystery Angels

Over the past few decades, the rise in the fortunes of the country’s richest people has created a golden age in philanthropy, comparable to the one that spawned the Carnegie and Rockefeller foundations a century ago. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the country’s biggest, is spending billions to end polio and to transform the U.S. education system. Alice Walton, an art lover and heiress to the Wal-Mart (WMT) retail fortune, built a world-class museum in small-town Arkansas. Gordon Moore, the Intel (INTC) co-founder, is spending $250 million to construct the world’s largest telescope on a mountain in Hawaii.

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 9, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Understanding How to Work Effectively in the Sector

Understanding Funders

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 9, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Philanthropic Muscle | It's NOT about being 'liked'

Making an Impact

“The best philanthropy is clearheaded and hard-nosed...

This is about results, not about good intentions.”

Non-Profit Challenges

Our research shows that only 52 percent of nonprofit leaders believe that their foundation funders are aware of the challenges their organizations are facing. Only 36 percent think funders share the knowledge they have about what other nonprofits are doing to address similar challenges. And less than 33 percent believe foundation funders use their various resources to help nonprofits with their challenges. These findings are not about nonprofits asking for bigger grants—they are about nonprofits wanting foundations to think more holistically about the resources at their disposal.

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 9, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

The supportive community and its many forms

Insofar as my being an EFFECTIVE participant, FULLY engaged in whatever role I have accepted, to my way of thinking, a supportive community is an invaluable asset -- dare I say treasure -- to cherish.  I dare and DO declare this to be so -- personally AND professionally.

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 6, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

From What Matters | Effective Non-Profit Leadership

Effective Non-Profit Leadership 

Leadership means asking the tough questions, 

analyzing and testing the answers, 

learning from the results, testing again, 

and continuously improving on the road to success.  

Dr. Gene Tempel

One of THE most important characteristics of a non-profit organization is the effectiveness of its leadership.  This morning, I read in my Twitter feed a reminder of one, if not the most, exemplary institution of non-profit education.*  When I visited the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy [IUPUI] website, I discovered an article about leadership.  I have provided a link to this resource and urge you to use this website and read what is available.

* http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/about-us

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 6, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Foundation Center | Free Newsletters

Free Newsletters

One of the most invaluable online non-profit resources I have discovered is the Foundation Center.  This morning, I read in my Twitter feed a reminder about their equally important newsletters -- that are free.

Stephanie Doty
Discouraging NP Dysfunction
May 6, 2014
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/