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, Fall 2017. Perpetuity is so yesterday. Or so it sometimes seems, as many high-profile philanthropists make clear…
National Center for Family Philanthropy, April 19, 2016. For much of the 20th century, the vast majority of US foundations…
Inside Philanthropy, June 19, 2020. Five of the nation’s largest and most storied foundations are expanding their combined grantmaking by…
Medium.com, October 29, 2019. Philanthropy has supported solutions to address some of the most important challenges of our time. And…
Inside Philanthropy Magazine, July 15, 2020. With the social sector facing rising need, falling revenues, and profound uncertainty about the…
Philanthropy News Digest, January 21, 2020. Wealthy families increasingly are adopting a “time-limited” — rather than “in-perpetuity” — approach…
Exponent Philanthropy blog, June 20, 2019. Getting clear on your foundation’s lifespan is one of the most fundamental decisions your…
The Nicholson Foundation website – News & Resources, November 4, 2019. The Nicholson Foundation is announcing that it has determined…
Inside Philanthropy, July 15, 2020. As Grantmakers for Girls of Color enters its sixth year, the philanthropic resource is now…
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.