Yup, there are many structural bases for the astonishing lack of
accountability and transparency in the work of foundations. Yet, as
someone who works at a foundation that is redesigning its operations in
order to become an effective investor in nonprofit core capacity building,
I can say that it is worth trying to nudge along the field of
philanthropy. In my travels I do see other foundations trying to change
the ways in which they work, and certainly investing in organizational
effectiveness is on many folks' minds.
Of course "field building" in the domain of philanthropy and
the creation of new kinds of funding partnerships are just small pieces of
solving this puzzle...but I wanted to be sure that they are recognized as
vehicles to be taken advantage of wherever possible.
