New Report by Philanthropy Heavyweights Offers Strategies for High-Impact Giving

Mon Nov 2, 2009 6:00am EST
 
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WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
In today`s altered economic landscape, philanthropists face difficult decisions
about which giving strategies are most effective and how best to invest their
philanthropic resources. To help donors confronting such questions, Arabella
Philanthropic Investment Advisors -- specialists in philanthropic strategy --
released a new report today that identifies high-impact giving opportunities for
2010 and beyond. 

The report, the latest edition of Arabella`s annual High-Impact Giving
Opportunities, highlights philanthropic opportunities that are urgent, often
overlooked, and provide major impact for donors. This year`s edition emphasizes
several high-leverage philanthropic strategies, from policy advocacy to mission
investing, that donors can employ to maximize their philanthropic resources
during difficult financial times. 

"Charting a course in philanthropy today is complicated, but there is more
opportunity and innovation in the field than perhaps ever before," said Bruce
Boyd, Managing Director of Arabella Advisors. "Donors are more focused than ever
on seeing concrete returns on their philanthropic investments, and this will
continue to require new thinking and action from everyone in the philanthropic
sector." 

Arabella Advisors, counsel to top philanthropic institutions including the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as
well as many family foundations and individual donors, identifies four
high-impact opportunities: 

- Advocating for effective climate change policies. Currently, less than 12
percent of foundations are engaged in policy advocacy. Yet giving that informs
and empowers organizations engaged in a public debate is one of the most
effective ways to drive results on the issues donors care about, including
climate change. The report demonstrates how donors can connect, engage and
support those who are engaged in policy advocacy. 

- Supporting mergers and alliances among human service organizations. During
difficult economic times, collaboration and consolidation have become important
strategies for many nonprofits -- notably for human services organizations that
have been hit by both reduced funds and increased demands for service. The
report highlights how philanthropists can invest in mergers and alliances that
help such organizations restructure to continue to achieve their missions and
even grow for the future. 

- Partnering with governments to improve education. Governments have reach,
scale and access. Philanthropists have the ability to be nimble and inventive,
thanks to less red tape and fewer entrenched interests. Combining their
strengths creates the potential to fund innovative programs, cover budget
shortfalls, capitalize on federal stimulus funds that are now flowing to
schools, and improve public education for the future. 

- Support community development through mission investing. In today`s economic
climate, credit is especially difficult to acquire in low-income communities.
Yet affordable credit is crucial to those communities` development.
Philanthropists can help not only through grant programs, but by making mission
related financial investments in community-based organizations and the financial
institutions that support them. 

This year`s High-Impact Giving Opportunities report also includes an update on
several opportunities from previous years, including investments in community
colleges, financial literacy, and green collar jobs. The report is available
online at http://www.arabellaadvisors.com/HIGO2010/. 

Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors (www.arabellaadvisors.com) is a
national strategic philanthropy advisor that serves institutional, corporate,
and family foundations, as well as high net worth individuals, with insights on
how to most effectively transform philanthropic dollars into results. Arabella
serves a diverse group of national and international philanthropists, including
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Mead Family Foundation, Hyatt Hotels,
Microsoft, and many others. Arabella Advisors also provides a full suite of
foundation management services and has a dedicated team of professionals focused
solely on the needs of our individual and family clients.

For more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with an
expert, please call Norissa Giangola at 202.277.8791 or email at
info@coquimarketing.com.

Arabella Advisors
Norissa Giangola, 202-277-8791
info@coquimarketing.com



Copyright Business Wire 2009

 

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