Giving Thought

In episode 50, we talk to Phil Buchanan- founding CEO of the Center for Effective Philanthropy and author of a new book: Giving Done Right: Effective Giving and Making Every Dollar Count. We discuss current debates about philanthropy and what we need to do to ensure a positive narrative about the value of giving in our society as we head into the future. Including:   What is the core role of philanthropy within society which differentiates it from either state or market provision? A key strength of philanthropy is often argued to be its ability to drive society forward by taking risks and funding things that the state or market cannot - but how much current philanthropy actually lives up to this billing? Why has the idea that non-profits need to be “more business-like” become so widespread, and why is it wrong? One of the effects of taking an “investment approach” is that donors can then be reluctant to fund core costs or to give unrestricted funding- why is this such a problem? Is part of the problem with t