Author Archive:
Diana Leat
“Because you’re worth it” exploring some alternative images of ‘foundations’
Those of us interested in philanthropic foundations face an important existentialist question: What are these creatures? Nielsen famously equated foundations to giraffes in the organisational jungle, while Whitaker considered them as resembling Don Quixote in …
A World of Giving: Carnegie Corporation of New York – Patricia Rosenfield
Book review by Diana Leat Though this book spans a long period – over 100 years – the concerns it highlights still ring disconcertingly true. What may be different is the confidence and the ambition: …
Legitimate inventions? When foundations create new organizations
In recent years there has been much discussion of foundations’ role in supporting very new organizations or those needing additional help for various reasons. The venture philanthropist supports what exists and is generally keen to …
A Versatile American Institution: The changing ideals and realities of philanthropic foundations
This book is a follow-on from the excellent American Foundations: Roles and contributions, which is an edited collection of 18 essays by 26 leading foundation specialists. Although in many ways based on material from the …
A History of the Barrow Cadbury Trust
This is a beautifully designed and presented book – a joy to look at and to read. The authors draw us in with their introductions to a cast of remarkable characters and their pioneering passions. …
Why foundations change
Why endowed foundations change is a fascinating but largely neglected puzzle. At one level the puzzle is that they seem to change so little despite the huge social, political and economic changes going on around …
Some reflections on the EFC Conference
Great session on universal basic income – perhaps in a conference on social justice we might talk a little more about income inequality? From the learning session: distinguish between solving mysteries and solving puzzles, and …
When will we ever learn?
One of the many colourful characters one encounters in the strange world of philanthropy is the new convert who believes that he or she is creating a brand new dawn, bringing new perspectives and encountering …
Some reflections on the EFC Conference
Great session on universal basic income – perhaps in a conference on social justice we might talk a little more about income inequality? From the learning session: distinguish between solving mysteries and solving puzzles, and …
News from the corridors at the EFC conference
Overheard: Male to female delegate – do you think foundation risk taking correlates with the height of the heels they wear? Two delegates: ‘So if voluntary re-disribution doesn’t work where does that leave foundations? Not …
