Purposeful giving

Posted January 21, 2010 in Views

There was a good article in Business Week today about taking advantage of the research of organizations that rate the efficiency and effectiveness of charities around the world. The article includes a list of seven organizations that take different approaches to evaluating non-profit organizations. I also learned about a philanthropic twist on the concept of a mutual fund: a “portfolio” of pre-screened non-profits in particular areas of interest, enabling donors to support a cause across a number of organizations, many of which they might not otherwise have known about. “So a donor interested in global health could ‘invest’ in a portfolio that looks a lot like the Gates Foundation beneficiaries,” the article reads. What a great idea.