Performance Measurement in Philanthropic Foundations : The Ambiguity of Success and Failure

The growth of philanthropic foundations in numbers and significance raises two immediate questions. First, what makes for success and failure of foundations’ projects and activities? Second, what yardsticks or benchmarks are used to measure performance and track goal attainment? The purpose of this book is to delve deeper into the complex set of issues that lie behind the performance and wider impact of philanthropy. Performance Measurement in Philanthropic Foundations looks at the strengths and weaknesses of philanthropic foundations, which are independent of both the market and ballot box and yet open to signal and incentive deficiencies. The authors use in-depth case studies from different countries to illustrate the problems and challenge much of the conventional wisdom on foundation "success" and "failure." The book also outlines the main contours of a proactive governance and management style to address those problems. Cover Title Copyright CONTENTS List of figures List of tables List of boxes Acknowledgments 1 The performance enigma of philanthropic foundations Introduction On performance Greater relevance and expectations The rise of demands for demonstrable effectiveness The benign fallibility syndrome Approaching success and failure 2 Taking a closer look: fallibility and ambiguity in philanthropy Digression toward the mean? Attribution, assessment criteria, and timing Complexity and dynamism Multiple goals, competing goals Politics Roles, comparative advantages, and disadvantages 3 Case studies of benign fallibility, with Olivia Knodt and Charlotte Koyro Introduction Walton Family Foundation, US King Baudouin Foundation, Belgium Pew Charitable Trusts, US Fondazione Cariplo, Italy Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, US Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, UK Mozaik Foundation, Bosnia-Herzegovina William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, US Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation, Germany A framework Case 1: Walton Family Foundation, US: charter schools funding Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcome and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion Case 2: King Baudouin Foundation, Belgium: the training of imams Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcome and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion Case 3: Pew Charitable Trusts, US: global warming and climate change program Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcomes and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion Case 4: Fondazione Cariplo, Italy: FHS and social housing Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcome and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion Case 5: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, US: tobacco use program Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcome and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion Case 6: Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, UK: Campaign for Freedom of Information Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcome and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion Case 7: Mozaik Foundation, Bosnia-Herzegovina: EkoMozaik Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcome and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion Case 8: William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, US: Neighborhood Improvement Initiative Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcome and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion Case 9: Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation, Germany: a new start for Theresienthal Overview of the case The foundation Description of the specific program Origins and rationale Design and implementation Outcome and impact Ambiguity and benign fallibility Conclusion 4 Implications: living with benign fallibility Lessons learned The benign fallibility syndrome revisited Principal-agent-perspectives Management perspectives Toward proactive management Appendices Appendix I: the cases Appendix II: case-overarching questions Index "With philanthropic foundations having grown in numbers and significance, the question of what makes for the success and failure of their projects and activities becomes increasingly relevant. What yardsticks or benchmarks apply for measuring performance and tracking goal attainment? The purpose of this book is to probe deeper into the complex set of issues that are behind the performance and wider impact of philanthropy, and to do so through a series of succinct and pertinent case studies."--Provided by publisher