Publications
One specific way in which happiness and philanthropy are linked may relate to limiting the life of a foundation. Many funders are advancing this proposition persuasively and directing their foundations to accelerate their grantmaking, thereby spending down their foundation funds and maximizing their impact in the near-term. We encourage you to contact us if you are aware of any other articles that should be referenced on this web page.
Stanford Social Innovation Review, Spring 2015. Does a good deed count as truly “good” if doing it makes you feel better?…
Stanford Social Innovation Review, Fall 2017. Perpetuity is so yesterday. Or so it sometimes seems, as many high-profile philanthropists make clear…
Utah State University, College of Science, Fall 2017. In a nutshell, giving to charity makes us happier; especially when we…
Psychological Science, December 20, 2018 . The happiness we feel after a particular event or activity diminishes each time we…
Nature.com, July 11, 2017. Generous behaviour is known to increase happiness, which could thereby motivate generosity. In this study, we…
Online Resources
Project on Spend-Down at the AVI CHAI Foundation and the Atlantic Philanthropies
Funded by grants from the Atlantic Philanthropies and the AVI CHAI Foundation, professors at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy’s Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society are documenting the experiences of Atlantic Philanthropies and the AVI CHAI Foundation as they go through the process of spending down their endowments. In addition to annual reports on the foundations progress, this site has a library of online resources relating to foundation spend down and a list of “Spend-Down Foundations.”
Spend Down vs. Perpetuity Resources
The Philanthropy Roundtable’s Donor Intent Resource Library operates this site which contains discussion, debate and case studies examining the philosophies of spending down one’s assets versus giving in perpetuity through the use of endowments.