“Why does the European Climate Foundation (ECF) monitor and evaluate?” This was the question that started the ECF’s M&E journey. The answers include: to help see where we are going, to see if we need to change direction, to help make better plans for the future and to make our… Read More
Do you feel like your organisation’s communications efforts are too often about “sending stuff out into the ether”? If so, you’re not alone. I recently heard this sentiment expressed during a meeting of social sector leaders, and it wasn’t for the first time. Their perception— that much of their organisations’… Read More
Small and medium-sized foundations (with assets, say, below 600 million euros) face a particular set of issues in maximising their investment returns while minimising their investment risks. Three obvious difficulties come to mind: Affording to employ an in-house investment specialist Attracting trustees/investment committee members with the necessary investment expertise Establishing… Read More
In its quest to promote deep progressive change within society, philanthropy is often blamed for addressing the symptoms rather than the roots of problems. In other words, we seem to promote short-term and single-issue strategies, transactional reforms and techno-fixes that eventually reinforce the logic of the dominant system instead of… Read More
In the current climate, crowdfunding represents a very welcome financial innovation, both for innovative companies that banks sometimes regard as too risky, and for non-profit-making enterprises and charity organisations which are having to cope with reductions in state subsidies. Supporting the charity/non-profit sector The above observation prompted BNP Paribas… Read More
Whilst academic education at private universities is recognised and has a high reputation in countries such as the United States, Great Britain or Japan the private operators in Germany permanently have to fight to justify their existence and against prejudices. The Jacobs University in Bremen, North Germany, which was founded… Read More
In addition to the risks emerging from the financial and economic crises, philanthropic organisations also need to deal with arising risks. Therefore, the Jacobs Foundation has complemented its internal control system with a comprehensive risk management framework, allowing for an elaborated controlling of relevant risks. As an entrepreneurial organisation, the… Read More
Floodings. Social exclusion. Pollution. Poverty. Lack of resources. What unites these societal challenges, which I believe we all can relate to? They are characteristics of the world today. They are complex. And they cannot be tackled by one person, organisation, state unit or local community alone – no matter how… Read More