Information markets in philanthropy
Tim O'Reilly notes the following great examples of innovators around "transparency in government" and recommends they consider joining the incoming Presidential administration.
Sunlight FoundationEveryblockpublic.resource.orgmysociety.org
Is there a parallel list of philanthropic accountability, nonprofit innovators? Months ago I posted these "maps" to show some of what was out there in the information market:
This paper* from the Hewlett Foundation takes a different look at the marketplace for information in the sector. This story in Monday's Washington Post looks at a nascent discussion on need for metrics and transparency - although I have to say I think the story is a wrong on almost every important issue - from the purpose of the group to the problem in the field. There is no shortage of metrics, there is a shortage of comprehensive ones. The problem is a lack of consistency or comparative understanding of which measures matter - which measure do I use if I care about program effectiveness? What about leadership quality or sustainability? Is there a way to find out about "customer satisfaction?"
We have measures and measurers - here's an incomplete list I've been keeping of measures or measurers (feel free to add to this):
- New Philanthropy Capital,
- GiveWell,*
- MissionMarkets,
- Venture Philanthropy Partners,
- Midot
- Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
- Guidestar
- Charity Navigator
- SocialSolutions
- Nonprofit Finance Fund
- REDF,
- Center for What Works,
- Keystone,
- Great Nonprofits
- Connectipedia
- SocialMarkets
- Xigi.net Social Capital Index
- Keystone's "Impact" sessions
- RootCause
- Urban Institute Outcome Indicators
- Acumen Fund/Google/Salesforce's Portfolio Data Management
- From Fragmentation to Function: Critical Concepts and Writings on Social Capital Market’s Structure
- Performance data commons
- UPenn's Center on High Impact Philanthropy
- Social Venture Technology Group
- HIP Investor
- Fast Company's Social Capitalist Awards
- IssueLab
- The Nonprofit Reporter
- SmartLink
- Think Social Impact
This is like throwing the Dow, the VIX and the Russell 2000 at a new investor and saying "here you go, use this!" Now that we can see a whole market of providers, the question becomes "Who does what well?" What measures are there? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What should I use and when?
*FULL DISCLOSURE: I participated in the Alliance for Social Investing meeting discussed in the Washington Post story. I am no longer on the board of GiveWell. I am an advisor to The Nonprofit Reporter. I am a member of the group Think Social Impact. I know people at and have worked with many of the other organizations listed above. My company and my work are mentioned in the Hewlett report.
Tags: philanthropy, data, metrics, allianceeffectiveinvesting