Understanding the craft of philanthropy: Do we make something that should be simple too complex?

This perspective piece addresses two critical questions regarding philanthropy: the adequacy of evaluation in grantmaking for social change and the potential for better idea testing through less "merit-based" grantee selection for demonstration projects. It examines whether philanthropies effectively assess their approaches and if simplifying the selection process could enhance testing new ideas. The article implicitly suggests a need for more robust, perhaps less complex, methodologies in philanthropic practice to maximize social impact.