Many foundations have distinct programs for funding risky ideas (Gates "Grand Challenges", RWJF "Pioneer Portfolio). The Energy Department has established a new office - Arpa-e - to fund "long shot bets". http://bit.ly/2dYhVO
The Gates Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, and other foundations have announced plans to spend-down their endowments to zero. This greatly increases annual spending and gives the programs a sense of timing and urgency.
In focusing on metrics, do philanthropies miss a larger goal? http://ow.ly/WDgV
Ongoing Gates Foundation program funding big, innovative ideas in global health. See http://www.grandchallenges.org
Foundations should maintain "rainy day funds" - or at least treat part of their endowment as one during times of financial crisis. http://bit.ly/6laK7I
The Chinese are creating a great deal of wealth in coming decades, but they have little experience with institutional philanthropy. The American philanthropic sector should make working with China a high priority. http://bit.ly/6GqGia
Mobile fundraising has boomed for both domestic and international causes. Here is a guide to mobile fundraising from MobileActive: http://bit.ly/bV64ET
Even if only 1% of foundation endowments were used for "loans for social good", philanthropic dollars could nearly double. Former Gates Foundation CFO in FT: http://bit.ly/9mEisk
Overhead ratios tell you nothing about a non-profit's effectiveness. Deciding which non-profits to support should be based on other criteria. http://bit.ly/6O3IAe
Social media allows corporate philanthropy dollars to generate considerable marketing value. http://ow.ly/VDmj
Foundations should follow the lead of the Boston Foundation: provide principally unrestricted support. Harvard Business Review article http://ow.ly/qzKX
If you are a non-profit, Google has great grant programs (aka "free money"). This and seven other good ideas for AdWords / non-profits: http://ow.ly/1sbOO