The second Wall Street Journal article on the state of philanthropy, entitled “Charitable Giving Is More Complicated Than It Seems” adds a critical tenth change to the previously published list of nine changes that foundations need to implement.
“It’s true that nonprofit organizations need more money at the precise time that funders have less to give. At the same time, however, our country is witnessing a renewed interest in service, the likes of which we haven’t seen in 40 years.
We must seize this opportunity to rethink how service can impact social issues and act upon it by structuring volunteer programs that drive real results for our communities. This includes focusing on the strategic needs of nonprofits, clearly defining volunteer roles and expectations, matching talents and skills of volunteers accordingly, and holding volunteerism accountable for the same results we expect from cash philanthropy.”