Social Justice Philanthropy

Full title: The Philanthropic Landscape: The State of Social Justice Philanthropy 2011

By Niki Jagpal and Kevin Laskowski

Published: May 2013

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According to The State of Social Justice Philanthropy 2011 giving around policy and community engagement to address pressing social problems dipped to 12 percent, compared to the 15 percent average in 2008-2010.

Full title: Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in the Northwest Region

Published: September 2010

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The Northwest Region is NCRP's fifth site in a series of reports from the Grantmaking for Community Impact Project. Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in the Northwest Region looks at how 20 nonprofits and their allies helped improved their communities and amplified the voices of vulnerable residents in the democratic process through advocacy and community organizing efforts. These nonprofits leveraged foundation grants that generated a $150 return for every dollar invested in their policy engagement efforts.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.

Note: Report updated 1/11/2011. Revisions made to correct typographical errors on pages 18 and 63.

Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in Minnesota

Published: September 2009

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"Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in Minnesota" by Gita Gulati-Partee and Lisa Ranghelli looks at data from 15 Minnesota nonprofits, which shows high return on investments and non-monetary gains on a range of issues including housing, civil rights, transportation and access to medical care.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.

Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in North Carolina

Published: May 2009

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"Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in North Carolina" by Lisa Ranghelli and Julia Craig looks at 2003-2007 data from 13 North Carolina nonprofits, which shows high return on investments and non-monetary gains on a range of issues including poverty, worker rights, education, health care, housing, environment and civil rights.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.

The Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best: Benchmarks to Assess and Enhance Grantmaker Impact is the first ever set of measurable guidelines that will help foundations and other institutional grantmakers operate ethically and maximize the impact of their dollars. It attempts to answer the questions: What differentiates an exemplary foundation from the rest of its peers? What can foundations do to improve its relevance to nonprofits, the economically and socially underserved Americans and society as a whole?

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Original Price: $25.00 non-members/$12.50 members
New Price: $15.00 non-members/$7.50 members

Additional discounts for members and non-members apply for orders of 5 copies or more. Please contact Kevin Laskowski at klaskowski@ncrp.org or (202) 387-9177 ext. 27.

Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in New Mexico

Published: December 2008

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"Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in New Mexico" by Lisa Ranghelli looks at 2003-2007 data from 14 New Mexico nonprofits, which shows high return on investments and successful policy changes that benefit New Mexicans, such as anti-predatory lending laws, minimum wage increases and homeless trust funds.

Hard copies also may be purchased for $5 for members ($10 for nonmembers). Delivery of hard copies may take 7-10 full business days.

Rural Philanthropy: Building Dialogue From Within

Revised Edition Published: August 2007

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"In Rural Philanthropy: Building Dialogue from Within," Rachael Swierzewski studies the disparity in giving between urban and rural nonprofits, and how geographical isolation and capacity-building needs greatly reduce the ability for rural nonprofits to secure funding. Swierzewski also offers substantive recommendations on ways to make philanthropy more responsive to rural America.

State of Philanthropy 2006: Creating Dialogue for Tomorrow's Movements

Published: July 2006

CRP's third in a series of biennial collections, State of Philanthropy 2006 aims to initiate conversations about creating progressive social change and increasing foundation accountability. It confronts contentious issues faced by today's nonprofit and philanthropic sectors from a variety of perspectives. By addressing new foundation strategies, the impact of federal budget constraints on nonprofits, accountability legislation and regulations, and emerging progressive movements, State of Philanthropy 2006 promotes the strengthening, redirecting and refocusing of foundation and nonprofit efforts to better meet the needs of the disenfranchised. This publication serves as a primer for progressive change during an era dominated by political conservatism.

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Social Justice Philanthropy: The Latest Trend or a Lasting Lens for Grantmaking?

Published: May 2005

A new report that defines and discusses the concept of social justice philanthropy and provides an assessment of its future in philanthropy. Social Justice Philanthropy: The Latest Trend or a Lasting Lens for Grantmaking? explores how grantmakers define and apply the concept of social justice to their work. The report's findings indicate that social justice philanthropy is fraught with many definitional variations, as well as disagreements on how to apply social justice concepts to grantmaking. While many agree that social justice philanthropy is somehow concerned with a more equitable redistribution of economic, political, and social power, there is little consensus on what a more just society would look like, or if philanthropy is capable of fostering these changes.

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Published: October 2004

State of Philanthropy 2004 is a collection of analyses on the accomplishments and shortcomings of the grantmaking field, with a focus on the social justice arena. The second in a series of publications, the biennial presents diverse perspectives from nonprofit, academic, foundation and advocacy leaders, and discusses how philanthropic institutions can assist the nonprofit sector in securing social and economic justice for the nation.

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New Price: $15.00

Published: April 2003

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This report examines the meaning of social justice philanthropy based on literature reviews and conversations with grantmakers, academics and nonprofit practitioners. What are the main elements of social justice philanthropy? What are the contradictions? This paper sets the stage for a report published by NCRP in the fall of 2004 that assesses the size and scope of the philanthropic social justice field and offer recommendations for funders.