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.
The Atlantic Philanthropies – Atlantic Insights. For Chuck Feeney, it’s simple. The joy of giving generously to help others and…
Stanford Social Innovation Review, February 10, 2020. Instead of plugging numbers into a traditional formula, taking another look at foundation…
Forbes, September 15, 2020. It took decades, but Chuck Feeney, the former billionaire cofounder of retail giant Duty Free Shoppers has…
Chronicle of Philanthropy, September 4, 2019. Two simple tweaks to federal policy can get philanthropic money working sooner and help…
Chronicle of Philanthropy, October 5, 2020. Nonprofits are reeling right now from the twin pressures of increased demand and decreased…
New York Times – October 11, 2023. Charles F. Feeney, a pioneer of duty-free shops and a shrewd investor in…
NPR – October 14, 2023. Charles Feeney wore a $10 watch, took the bus and subway, flew coach, and lived…
The Wall Street Journal – October 9, 2023. What’s a billionaire to do if he doesn’t want yachts or mansions, is…
Washington Post – October 10, 2023. For decades, the former duty-free tycoon donated nearly $8 billion to humanitarian efforts and…
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.