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

Helmut Anheier · Diana Leat

Sep 2018 · Routledge

About this ebook

The growth of philanthropic foundations in numbers and significance raises two immediate questions. First, what makes for success and failure of foundations’ projects and activities? Second, what yardsticks or benchmarks are used to measure performance and track goal attainment? The purpose of this book is to delve deeper into the complex set of issues that lie behind the performance and wider impact of philanthropy.

Performance Measurement in Philanthropic Foundations looks at the strengths and weaknesses of philanthropic foundations, which are independent of both the market and ballot box and yet open to signal and incentive deficiencies. The authors use in-depth case studies from different countries to illustrate the problems and challenge much of the conventional wisdom on foundation "success" and "failure." The book also outlines the main contours of a proactive governance and management style to address those problems.

About the author

Helmut K. Anheier is Professor of Sociology and President emeritus at the Hertie School of Governance, Germany. He also holds a Chair of Sociology and serves as Academic Director of the Center for Social Investment at Heidelberg University, Germany.

Diana Leat

is Visiting Professor at Cass Business School, London, UK. She is an independent researcher and consultant on philanthropy policy and practice, and spent a year at the Carnegie Trust UK developing the first research centre for philanthropy in the UK (CGAP).