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Philanthropy

Enriching the field of philanthropy.

Explaining his transition from industrialist to philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie wrote, “I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution.” Close to a century later, this task remains extremely challenging.

Philanthropic foundations have multiplied since Carnegie’s Gilded Age: there are now 87,000 in the United States, 3,000 with professional staff members. The field has not only grown but become more professionalized and aware of best practices. Yet donors still struggle to make headway against the social problems they seek to solve. Translating the tenets of strategic philanthropy—setting clear objectives, designing and implementing effective strategies, and measuring progress—into action requires new tools and support. And with more than 1 million nonprofit organizations nationwide seeking funding, navigating the social capital marketplace demands great insight.  

We believe that if the world’s funders can efficiently back the world’s most effective nonprofits, society as a whole will be far better positioned to solve complex problems like poverty or climate change.

Thus, the Foundation’s Philanthropy Program aims to strengthen the infrastructure of this marketplace: to give funders the data, training, and support they need be effective grantmakers; and to help nonprofit organizations collect and distribute information about their goals and actual achievements—information that donors need in order to make good choices.

In addition, Philanthropy Program staff work to make the Hewlett Foundation itself a leading example of the strategic philanthropy we advocate.

In 2006, the Philanthropy Program made grants totaling $5,972,025.