Questioning Social Innovation
(6-1-10) In an editorial for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Pablo Eisenberg questions the seriousness and efficacy of the federal government's Social Innovation Fund. Eisenberg writes in response to last week's announcement that 25 foundations will be contributing a total of $50 million to the Fund. After outlining several ways the initiative is failing to meet NGO and community needs, Eisenberg concludes:
If the president is serious about persuading foundations to give more money to support nonprofit organizations, he should use the bully pulpit to pressure foundations to increase their grant making. Better yet, the administration could urge Congress to increase the minimum amount foundations are legally required to spend annually from 5 percent to 6 percent in grants, a measure that would add at least $10 billion a year to nonprofit coffers.
Read more here.