Performance Measurement in Philanthropic Foundations: The Ambiguity of Success and Failure

Cover
Title
Copyright
CONTENTS
List of figures
List of tables
List of boxes
Acknowledgments
1	The performance enigma of philanthropic foundations
	Introduction
	On performance
	Greater relevance and expectations
	The rise of demands for demonstrable effectiveness
	The benign fallibility syndrome
	Approaching success and failure
2	Taking a closer look: fallibility and ambiguity in philanthropy
	Digression toward the mean?
	Attribution, assessment criteria, and timing
	Complexity and dynamism
	Multiple goals, competing goals
	Politics
	Roles, comparative advantages, and disadvantages
3 Case studies of benign fallibility, with Olivia Knodt and Charlotte Koyro
	Introduction
		Walton Family Foundation, US
		King Baudouin Foundation, Belgium
		Pew Charitable Trusts, US
		Fondazione Cariplo, Italy
		Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, US
		Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, UK
		Mozaik Foundation, Bosnia-Herzegovina
		William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, US
		Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation, Germany
	A framework
	Case 1: Walton Family Foundation, US: charter schools funding
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcome and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
	Case 2: King Baudouin Foundation, Belgium: the training of imams
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcome and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
	Case 3: Pew Charitable Trusts, US: global warming and climate change program
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcomes and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
	Case 4: Fondazione Cariplo, Italy: FHS and social housing
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcome and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
	Case 5: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, US: tobacco use program
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcome and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
	Case 6: Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, UK: Campaign for Freedom of Information
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcome and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
	Case 7: Mozaik Foundation, Bosnia-Herzegovina: EkoMozaik
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcome and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
	Case 8: William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, US: Neighborhood Improvement Initiative
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcome and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
	Case 9: Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation, Germany: a new start for Theresienthal
		Overview of the case
		The foundation
		Description of the specific program
		Origins and rationale
		Design and implementation
		Outcome and impact
		Ambiguity and benign fallibility
		Conclusion
4	Implications: living with benign fallibility
	Lessons learned
	The benign fallibility syndrome revisited
		Principal-agent-perspectives
		Management perspectives
	Toward proactive management
Appendices
	Appendix I: the cases
	Appendix II: case-overarching questions
Index