FROM GRANTMAKER TO LEADER
The past one hundred years has borne witness to an extraordinaryrevolution in the constitution and activities of philanthropicfoundations. The evolution of the governance of foundations-fromfounder to family to professionals to institutions-has necessarilyaltered the role that foundations play within a society. Ascommunity foundations, for example, strengthen the essentialcommunal fabric and help all organizations gain a financialfoothold, they find themselves at times in conflict with commercialgift funds, whose transactional nature between the donor and theorganization stimulates philanthropy in a wholly different fashion.From Grantmaker to Leader: Emerging Strategies for 21st CenturyFoundations takes stock of this shifting landscape, presenting boldleadership strategies for directing philanthropic organizationsinto the unchartered waters of the future.
Seasoned foundation executives Frank Ellsworth and Joseph Lumardaassemble an all-star roster of insider contributors, dividing theirtrenchant study into three sections. "From Carnegie to Gates: TheChanging Faces and Needs of Philanthropy" examines the history offamily and community foundations and how the turmoil of the "NewEconomy" will affect these organizations in the future. SectionTwo, "The Foundation's New Reach: The Emerging Role of Leader,Communicator, and Facilitator of Change" addresses the criticalresponsibility of effectively articulating a foundation's message,showing how messages can successfully penetrate the media. Finally,the third section "Building the Foundation Board of the 21stCentury: Diversity and Strategic Planning" analyzes all aspects offoundation boards of directors, including their makeup,responsibilities, backgrounds, necessary diversity, and the role ofboards in foundation planning. Throughout all three sections, FromGrantmaker to Leader tackles all the critical issues facingphilanthropic foundations today, such as:
* Transfer of wealth
* Legislative concerns
* IRS audits
* The role of foundations in public policy issues, such as campaignspending
* Accountability
* Planned giving
* Assessment of the effectiveness of giving
* Socially responsible investment and social return oninvestment
Even as the very nature of foundations has changed, a fundamentalquestion remains: will philanthropies play a more pervasive role insociety's future or will their influence forever remain elitist andselective? Writing directly for trustees, practitioners, foundationCEOs and CFOs, and every philanthropic professional, Ellsworth andLumarda make the convincing case that foundations matter more thanever, offering proven strategies for philanthropic success.
FRANK L. ELLSWORTH is a vice president at Capital Research andManagement Company, where he oversees and coordinates programs andservices to endowments in Los Angeles.
JOSEPH LUMARDA is the Executive Vice President of External Affairsfor the California Community Foundation in Los Angeles.
