The Philanthropy Framework
A Framework for Optimizing Institutional Effectiveness and Impact
The Philanthropy Framework is a Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors tool to help emerging and established philanthropies better align resources for maximum impact.
Created with input from leaders from more than 50 foundations worldwide (see the complete list below), the Philanthropy Framework publication seeks to address fundamental changes in philanthropy and the world such as generational shifts in attitudes, massive wealth creation, diversity of capital, new models for impact, and new operating environments among others.
“Emerging models of philanthropy in the last 20 years have transformed the traditional ways in which funders – whether they’re individuals, families, corporations or foundations – accomplish their goals, approach organizational design, and manage key resources,” said Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors CEO Melissa A. Berman. “We worked with many of the largest, most thoughtful, and strategic global philanthropists to develop a practical, useful guide to enable existing, new, and next generation philanthropists to create more meaningful social impact. We are pleased to make the outcomes of this thinking available to others.”
Access The Philanthropy Framework here.
From aligning trustees, board, and staff around core concepts and values, to assessing ideal philanthropic structures, to considering how best to deploy resources, the Framework gives philanthropies new tools for analyzing how to make decisions to evolve with changing times. It lays out three core elements for philanthropists to consider when determining how to maximize their impact:
- Charter, the organization’s scope, form of governance, and decision-making protocol;
- Social Compact, its implicit or explicit agreement with society about the value it will create; and
- Operating Model, the approach to the resources, structures, and systems needed to implement strategy.
Examples of these elements in action are illustrated through the work of contributors such as the Wellcome Trust, Ford Foundation, The S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, The California Endowment, Kresge Foundation, Lumina Foundation, the Episcopal Health Foundation, and others highlighted in case studies in The Philanthropy Framework publication, found here.
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has also created a freely accessible online tool for philanthropies to gain a better understanding of their own Philanthropy Framework, available here.
We are grateful to the following organizations for their support in developing The Philanthropy Framework:
The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Arcadia Fund
Arcus Foundation
Barr Foundation
Bikubenfonden
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Robert Bosch Foundation
The California Endowment
The California Wellness Foundation
Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
Conrad. N. Hilton Foundation
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Episcopal Health Foundation
Esmee Fairbairn
The F.B. Heron Foundation
Fondation Daniel & Nina Carasso
Fondazione Cariplo
Fondazione CRT
Ford Foundation
Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Hewlett Foundation
Houston Endowment
John Templeton Foundation
The Kresge Foundation
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland
Lumina Foundation
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Margaret A. Cargill Foundation
Mercator Foundation
Nathan Cummings Foundation
Newman’s Own Foundation
NoVo Foundation
Oak Foundation
Porticus
Rasmuson Foundation
Realdania
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
The Rockefeller Foundation
S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
Schusterman Foundation
Simons Foundation
Surdna Foundation
TIAA-CREF Institute
The Tiffany & Co. Foundation
Wallace Foundation
Wellcome Trust
William Grant Foundation
