After a Decade, Lessons About How Community Funds Can Evolve Successfully
The Silicon Valley Community Foundation isn’t bound by geography like other similar funds — and that has helped it succeed in serving donors who hail from many places and think differently.
By Emmett D. Carson
Contributor
Limits on the Life Spans of Foundation Endowments Make No Sense
Just as individuals need checking and savings accounts, philanthropy’s ability to solve global problems depends on short-term and long term spending, Silicon Valley Community Foundation head Emmett Carson writes.
By Emmett D. Carson
Contributor
To Strengthen the Nonprofit World, Independent Sector and the Council on Foundations Should Merge
With a single voice, the merged group could get policy makers and the public to pay more attention to how charities and grant makers can best help the neediest.
By Emmett D. Carson
Contributor
Opinion: New Fla. Law Makes It Harder for Foundations to Live Up To Values
Foundations should oppose Florida’s effort to restrict reporting about diversity efforts, writes Emmett D. Carson, chief executive of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
By Emmett D. Carson
Contributor
Unprecedented Times Call for Unprecedented Actions
The Great Recession that began in 2008 will be one of the defining events of the 21st century. With five million Americans losing jobs since the recession began and 600,000 more losing their jobs monthly, our country is in the midst of a profound social and economic transformation. Add to this the…
By Emmett D. Carson
Contributor
An Easy Way to Curb Foundation Abuses
As lawmakers have been debating how to encourage greater foundation accountability, one simple, low-cost idea that could make a big difference has not gotten much attention. Congress should require donors to contribute at least $1-million if they want to create a foundation. Foundation with assets…
By Emmett D. Carson
Contributor
Community Foundations Facing Crossroads
Community foundations are facing a profound identity crisis because of the recent emergence and rapid proliferation of commercial gift funds. Historically, community foundations have seen their role as raising permanent, unrestricted endowments to meet community needs within a specified geography.…
By Emmett D. Carson
Contributor
Grant Makers Mustn’t Hide Behind Trendy Strategies
In the search for a way to make a more lasting difference, grant makers are looking to new concepts to guide their grant-making strategies. Three concepts more than any others -- the asset model, outcome evaluation, and venture-capital investing -- have advanced discussion on how foundations and…
By Emmett D. Carson
Contributor