Attitudes and Practices Concerning Effective Philanthropy

In 2003, The Urban Institute conducted a comprehensive survey of 1,192 staffed grantmaking foundations to create a detailed portrait of attitudes and practices concerning effective philanthropy. Funded by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation in partnership with Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), the study explored various aspects of effectiveness, including communications, evaluation, grantmaking, and staff development. This report presents the findings, revealing how foundations perceive themselves, how they operate, and whether they align with their own beliefs regarding optimal functioning in the philanthropic field.