User:Hecker/GrantStrategy/Readings

Some background reading on ideas related to my personal framework for strategic grantmaking:

• The article "Catalytic Philanthropy" in the Fall 2009 issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, offers an approach to conceiving and operating programs that shares several points of similarity to the framework referenced above. "Donors who are serious about solving social problems must take a catalytic role, mounting a campaign and knitting together the pieces of a solution in ways that the fragmented nonprofit sector cannot do for itself."
• The long-term visions discussed in relation to programs under the referenced framework are similar in purpose to the "big hairy audacious goals" ("BHAGs") discussed by Jim Collins and Jerry Poras. "A true BHAG is clear and compelling, serves as unifying focal point of effort, and acts as a clear catalyst for team spirit."
• A useful framework for analyzing industry trends and potential points of leverage is Clayton Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation and related concepts. "An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions when compared against traditional performance metrics."