New Report by Philanthropy Heavyweights Offers Strategies for High-Impact Giving

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In today’s altered economic landscape, philanthropists face difficult decisions about which giving strategies are most effective and how best to invest their philanthropic resources. To help donors confronting such questions, Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors -- specialists in philanthropic strategy -- released a new report today that identifies high-impact giving opportunities for 2010 and beyond.

“Donors are more focused than ever on seeing concrete returns on their philanthropic investments, and this will continue to require new thinking and action from everyone in the philanthropic sector.”

The report, the latest edition of Arabella’s annual High-Impact Giving Opportunities, highlights philanthropic opportunities that are urgent, often overlooked, and provide major impact for donors. This year’s edition emphasizes several high-leverage philanthropic strategies, from policy advocacy to mission investing, that donors can employ to maximize their philanthropic resources during difficult financial times.

“Charting a course in philanthropy today is complicated, but there is more opportunity and innovation in the field than perhaps ever before,” said Bruce Boyd, Managing Director of Arabella Advisors. “Donors are more focused than ever on seeing concrete returns on their philanthropic investments, and this will continue to require new thinking and action from everyone in the philanthropic sector.”

Arabella Advisors, counsel to top philanthropic institutions including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as well as many family foundations and individual donors, identifies four high-impact opportunities:

- Advocating for effective climate change policies. Currently, less than 12 percent of foundations are engaged in policy advocacy. Yet giving that informs and empowers organizations engaged in a public debate is one of the most effective ways to drive results on the issues donors care about, including climate change. The report demonstrates how donors can connect, engage and support those who are engaged in policy advocacy.

- Supporting mergers and alliances among human service organizations. During difficult economic times, collaboration and consolidation have become important strategies for many nonprofits -- notably for human services organizations that have been hit by both reduced funds and increased demands for service. The report highlights how philanthropists can invest in mergers and alliances that help such organizations restructure to continue to achieve their missions and even grow for the future.

- Partnering with governments to improve education. Governments have reach, scale and access. Philanthropists have the ability to be nimble and inventive, thanks to less red tape and fewer entrenched interests. Combining their strengths creates the potential to fund innovative programs, cover budget shortfalls, capitalize on federal stimulus funds that are now flowing to schools, and improve public education for the future.

- Support community development through mission investing. In today’s economic climate, credit is especially difficult to acquire in low-income communities. Yet affordable credit is crucial to those communities’ development. Philanthropists can help not only through grant programs, but by making mission related financial investments in community-based organizations and the financial institutions that support them.

This year’s High-Impact Giving Opportunities report also includes an update on several opportunities from previous years, including investments in community colleges, financial literacy, and green collar jobs. The report is available online at http://www.arabellaadvisors.com/HIGO2010/.

Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors (www.arabellaadvisors.com) is a national strategic philanthropy advisor that serves institutional, corporate, and family foundations, as well as high net worth individuals, with insights on how to most effectively transform philanthropic dollars into results. Arabella serves a diverse group of national and international philanthropists, including The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Mead Family Foundation, Hyatt Hotels, Microsoft, and many others. Arabella Advisors also provides a full suite of foundation management services and has a dedicated team of professionals focused solely on the needs of our individual and family clients.

For more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with an expert, please call Norissa Giangola at 202.277.8791 or email at [e-mail].