The following resources are a starting point for further research into exploring how private capital affects the public good - benefits & harms to people, communities, and the planet.
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Resources About Philanthropy
Philanthropy is the practice of deploying private capital with the intention of generating positive social and/or environmental impact, without any financial returns to the donor.
Alliance Magazine "For philanthropy and social investment worldwide"
Arabella Advisors Philanthropic consulting firm
CECP Formerly known as the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, this is a "coalition of CEOs united in the belief that societal improvement is an essential measure of business performance
Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) "a nonprofit organization focused on the development of data and insight to enable higher-performing funders. CEP’s mission is to provide data and create insight so philanthropic funders can better define, assess, and improve their effectiveness – and, as a result, their intended impact."
Charity Navigator "guiding intelligent giving, we aim to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace, in which givers and the charities they support work in tandem to overcome our nation’s and the world’s most persistent challenges."
Chris Cardona's Blog ("The Blog Briefly Known as 'Democratizing Philanthropy?'")
Feedback Labs Closing feedback loops in aid & philanthropy by making them the right, smart, and feasible thing to do.
The Foundation Review The first peer-reviewed journal of philanthropy.
FSG Formerly known as "Foundation Strategy Group", this is a philanthropic consulting firm.
Foundation Center comprehensive information about foundations in the US.
GiveWell a nonprofit dedicated to finding outstanding giving opportunities and publishing the full details of their analysis to help donors decide where to give. They conduct in-depth research aiming to determine how much good a given program accomplishes (in terms of lives saved, lives improved, etc.) per dollar spent.
Giving What We Can international society for the promotion of the most cost-effective poverty relief, in particular in the developing world.
GlobalGiving GlobalGiving is the first and largest global crowdfunding community that connects nonprofits, donors, and companies in nearly every country around the world. We make it possible for local organizations to access the funding, tools, training, and support they need to become more effective and make our world a better place.
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) A learning network to help grantmakers make more informed decisions.
GuideStar the definitive source of information about nonprofits and their programs.
Independent Sector the trade association for the nonprofit and philanthropic community.
Inside Philanthropy compelling news source about the philanthropic sector.
Markets for Good an effort to explore how the social might better generate, share, and use information to make better decisions.
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy An independent watchdog about foundations.
Nonprofit Chronicles Marc Gunther's journalism about nonprofit organizations and their impact.
Nonprofit Finance Fund provides loans and consulting services to nonprofit organizations.
Nonprofit Quarterly news and opinion resource for the nonprofit and philanthropic sector.
The Nonprofit Times news about the nonprofit sector.
Open Philanthropy Project "Our mission is to give as effectively as we can and share our findings openly so that anyone can build on our work. Through research and grantmaking, we hope to learn how to make philanthropy go especially far in terms of improving lives."
Philanthrofiles blog of Exponent Philanthropy, which helps foundations be more effective.
Philanthropy 2173 Lucy Bernholz's indispensable blog about philanthropy, data, and civil society.
Philanthropy Magazine news and opinion resource by the Philanthropy Roundtable.
Philanthropy News Digest a news digest produced by the Foundation Center.
Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) preeminent journal about the social sector.
White Courtesy Telephone blog about the philanthropy sector.
Resources about Impact Investing
Impact investing is the practice of deploying private capital with the intention of generating positive social and/or environmental impact, alongside financial returns for the investor.
Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the scale and effectiveness of impact investing.
ImpactAlpha Investment News for a Sustainable Edge
ImpactSpace Open source database covering the companies, funds, deals, service providers, and people in the impact investing ecosystem.
MBA Impact Investing Network & Training (MIINT) an experiential lab designed to give students at business and graduate schools a hands-on education in impact investing.
Mission Investors Exchange (MIE) Formerly known as PRI Makers, this is a network of foundations seeking to deploy a range of capital for social and environmental impact.
Social Capital Markets (SOCAP) "a network of heart-centered investors, entrepreneurs, and social impact leaders who believe in an inclusive and socially responsible economy to address the world’s toughest challenges."
Resources about Responsible Investing
Responsible investing is the practice of deploying private capital for expected financial return, while explicitly acknowledging the relevance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and considerations.
PRI (Principles of Responsible Investing) an United Nations-supported "international network of investors working together to put the six Principles for Responsible Investment into practice. Its goal is to understand the implications of sustainability for investors and support signatories to incorporate these issues into their investment decision making and ownership practices."
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) founded on the idea that "better information leads to better decision making", SASB is an independent non-profit whose mission is to "develop and disseminate sustainability accounting standards that help public corporations disclose material, decision-useful information to investors. That mission is accomplished through a rigorous process that includes evidence-based research and broad, balanced stakeholder participation."