Author Archive:
Philanthropic Intelligence
Yearning for earnings: what´s behind the hunger for social businesses?
In the hip barn of the twenty something owners of a horse-powered winegrowers on the coast of Maine, the rafters echoed with the buzz of wealthy young people who got together because they were excited …
Foundations that break the rules
The other day the founder of an innovative medical research foundation described how they had received an important early grant from a very large and well-reputed foundation. He confided that: ‘They had to break their …
How will the ‘First Globals’ change philanthropy?
‘Of course, she went down to Guatemala with my wife, to help out with that non-profit, Safe Passages.’ A friend was describing his daughter’s experience with philanthropy and community work. I was struck by his …
Entrepreneurs in Spain? Right now? Really? Yes!
There’s a ray of light shining through the midst of Spain’s gloomy economic picture… and it’s emanating from the beleaguered social sector. In the midst of dramatic government spending cuts, sky-high unemployment and overall economic …
What makes a great gift… 100 years later?
The other day a small bronze plaque in the brick of our town’s modest (but wonderful) public library stopped me dead. The plaque read ‘This building is a gift of Andrew Carnegie to the City …
The next generation of philanthropists: young people investing in social change
The next generation’s ambitions and sense of what’s possible in the world of social change have grown dramatically over the last twenty years. This evolution was patent in the halls of Spain’s IESE business school …
Leadership in philanthropy: seven inspiring examples from outside the field
‘Motivate others to work collaboratively to do great things’. I was struck by this definition used to select seven 2011 Top American Leaders. Wouldn’t it be a great expectation for philanthropy leaders as well? We …
What’s different about philanthropy in Spain?
The scene was the first large-scale conference on family philanthropy in Spain. 160 hand-picked attendees with ties to significant family businesses were in the audience. What did I see from behind the podium as I …
Eyes on the prize? Should be we awarding grants or trophies?
It’s prime season for awarding prizes in Spain’s philanthropic world. Last month Spain’s Prince Felipe awarded the Premios Principe de Asturias to artists, athletes and scientists, and to Ashoka’s founder, Bill Drayton, in the area …
Building bridges for Impact Investing in Segovia
The Roman aqueduct that brought water from the mountains to people of Segovia was a fitting backdrop for the recent gathering organized by IE University and Fundación Compromiso Empresarial. The charge was to lay the …
