Aspen Institute, Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation

The Aspen Institute, founded in 1949 and based in Washington, D.C., is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. The Aspen Institute’s Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) leverages the Aspen Institute's attributes, networks, and areas of domain expertise to inform and maximize the impact of philanthropic actors and those they support so that each can contribute to a better society in the United States and abroad. PSI delivers an array of workshops, research, communications, and sector strengthening initiatives including the Aspen Philanthropy Group – which is composed of CEOs of private, public, and corporate foundations, and Mid-America Foundation CEOs Seminar – an effort to bring together leaders of place-based foundations committed to building bridges in polarized communities. This grant provides PSI with flexible support for general operations.

The Aspen Institute’s Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (the Program) seeks to maximize the positive impact on society of grantmaking foundations and nonprofit organizations through leadership development initiatives, workshops, research, and communications. This grant supports several projects, most notably the Aspen Philanthropy Group (APG), which is composed of CEOs of private, public and corporate foundations, and Foundation Knowledge Sharing, a new effort to improve the exchange of information between established and emerging donors. Known for providing a neutral forum for a diverse set of actors to consider and seek solutions to complex problems, a core strength of the Program is its convening power.

The Aspen Institute’s Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (the Program) seeks to maximize the positive impact on society of grantmaking foundations and nonprofit organizations through leadership development initiatives, workshops, research, and communications. This award will support several projects, including the Aspen Philanthropy Group (APG), which is composed of CEOs of private, public and corporate foundations; the Nonprofit Data Working Group, which works to improve collection of data about non-profits by the federal government; and the Artist-Endowed Foundations Initiative, which aims to strengthen the next generation of artist-endowed foundations. Known for providing a neutral forum for a diverse set of actors to consider and seek solutions to complex problems, a core strength of this program is its convening power. Award funds will be used primarily for salaries, travel, and meeting expenses.

The Aspen Institute’s Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation seeks to inform and enhance the positive impact on society of grantmaking foundations and nonprofit organizations through leadership development initiatives, workshops, research, and communications. The grant will support a wide variety of projects, including the Aspen Philanthropy Group, which is composed of CEOs of private, public and corporate foundations; the Nonprofit Data Project, which works to improve collection of data about non-profits by the federal government; the Impact Economy Initiative, which is investigating funding instruments such as social impact bonds; and special publications and reports on topics of interest, such as evaluation and assessment.

In support of the Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (over two years).