About the Project

This work is born out of two themes in the IFF history. The first is the continuing search for funders who are willing to provide philanthropic grants to a project (ours) that is interested in new theory as much as new practice, and that when it does get into action cannot promise predetermined outcomes from the outset. The second is the theme of how to scale from local success - evident, for example, in discussions around our Fife health case encounter at IFF3 and the notion of holarchies. It is also true that the IFF observation of waning effectiveness in tackling complex issues in a confusing environment is also afflicting philanthropy. There is a growing debate therefore about the future of philanthropy and how to make the spending of large (and small) sums of money more effective. These are all core concerns of IFF.

Partners

No formal partner at present

Last updated: 3 Dec 2011

Status

IFF Director Graham Leicester has taken the lead in developing thinking on what he calls 'the art of better giving', principally in discussion with senior managers of UnLtd, the UK Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneuring is a very effective small scale model of change, based on giving individual social entrepreneurs sufficient funds to realise their local ambitions. UnLtd now have the opportunity to think about how to scale that model both in terms of numbers and size of projects and to think in terms of longer term social transformation. IFF are looking to develop our relevant thinking in this area, in particular reflecting on other models for scaling that we have explored like holarchy, social acupuncture and the importance of the learning cycle in any attempt to build success over time.

Documents for download

Click on the documents below to download them to your hard disk.

The Art of Better Giving

A discussion paper on the challenges to effective philanthropy in a complex world, and some ideas about new models and modes for spending money to greater effect.

Date: 10 Jan 2006  Size: 68kB