May 29, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
Three marquee foundations have started new efforts to generate ideas from outside their hallowed halls, a welcomed change for philanthropy, writes Lucy Bernholz on her blog, Philanthropy 2173.
Since the beginning of this year, the Rockefeller Foundation’s Web site has been soliciting high-impact ideas about how to benefit humanity, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation created an online forum,
which is now closed, to discuss ways to curb nitrogen pollution, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is holding an open competition for projects that can improve the American health-care system.
Ms. Bernholz, an adviser to donors and grant makers, applauded these efforts, saying they resemble how venture capitalists approach finding a successful product or business.
“Lots of people have observed over the years that the commercial sector sends money out looking for ideas, while philanthropy requires ideas to chase money,” she writes. “The three efforts outlined above are interesting expansions of this model.”
What do you think? Should more foundations seek outside ideas? Are what the three foundations are doing the best way to do this?
