Weekly News Alert: 10/12/09 - 10/19/09

On the Internet, Civic Engagement and the Future of Philanthropy…

• Many people hoped that the Internet would change the dynamic of civic engagement in the sense that the Internet would act as a kind of socioeconomic equalizer.  Unfortunately, a study by Pew Internet & American Life Project found that those who are actively involved in online civic engagement mirror those who are involved in offline civic engagement (namely, the well-to-do and well-educated).  There are some hints, though, that social media – especially blogging – could alter this pattern.

• Despite the recession, many believe that we are about to enter a “golden age of philanthropy.” The reasoning behind this is that we are on the verge of witnessing the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in America’s history.  As baby boomers begin to transfer their wealth to their children, it is predicted that a significant portion of that wealth will be allocated to philanthropic purposes.  More studies will be released later this year, analyzing more current data to try and predict the degree of this “golden age.”

On Leaders and Innovation…

• In 1995 Jon Katzenbach wrote a book about ‘Real Change Leaders’ who acted as agents of change within companies.  Real Change Leaders, he said, worked within their organizations to promote innovation and their efforts moved their companies forward.  Today, the Social Velocity Blog says that social entrepreneurs should look to these Real Change Leaders to model and inform change.
• Bob Preston of Blogging Innovation analyzes Obama’s innovation strategy which has the stated goal of ‘driving toward sustainable growth and quality jobs.’  He concludes that the plan is indeed innovative, but that it reads more like a “vision for the future as opposed to a true plan.”

On the Kiva Debate…

• An online debate about Kiva, a microfinance organization, is a hot topic in the philanthropy world right now.  The debate is over that fact that the process Kiva says they follow is different than the process they actually follow. 
• Change.org elaborates on the debate and explores the question of why average donors are comfortable giving when they believe it is going directly to help another person, but are much less willing to give when they know their money is being “invested” in an organization.
   

Top Articles:

The Internet and Civic Engagement
Authors: Aaron Smith, Kay Lehman Schlozman, Sidney Verba, Henry Brady
Date: September 2009
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project
 
Huge Wave In Charitable Giving Still Coming
Author: Richard C. Morais
Date: October 2, 2009
Source: Forbes.com
 
The Long View of Change
Date: October 8, 2009
Source: Social Velocity Blog
 
A Look at Obama’s Innovation Strategy
Author: Bob Preston
Date: October 13, 2009
Source: Blogging Innovation
 
Is Kiva Misleading the Public?
Author: Sean Stannard-Stockton
Date: October 13, 2009
Source: Tactical Philanthropy
 
Kiva, Donor Idealism, and Why Most People Just Don’t Care About “Investing in Nonprofits”
Author: Nathanial Whittemore
Date: October 13, 2009
Source: change.org