172 THE OPEN BOOK OF SOCIAL INNOVATION
making these links. Experiments in ‘crowdfunding’ potentially enrich the gift relationship, and democratise the sector’s source of finance. 416) Intermediaries for contributions in kind provide labour and skills matching for volunteering, such as the Taproot Foundation’s Service Grant programme which provides not-for-profit organisations with pro bono marketing, human resources and IT consulting services. 2
417) Philanthropic ‘eBays’. Philanthropic platforms such as VolunteerMatch which help people find volunteering opportunities in their local area. 418) Donor platforms, such as GlobalGiving, Altruistiq Exchange, Network for Good, Firstgiving and Guidestar. Internet donor sites dramatically reduce the cost of fundraising (estimated at between 15 per cent and 33 per cent of funds raised in the US). We can expect similar websites to develop features like donor forums, star ratings, Good Giving Guides and Amazon type links (those who have given to x have also given to y and z).
Mission-related investment Philanthropy has increasingly moved to softening the distinction between grant and investment – viewing funds as supporting projects that contribute to a specific mission, including transformations of whole sectors for social ends. 419) Strategic investments to transform sectoral provision, for example, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s investment in small high schools across America; and the Prosperity Initiative; which creates sectoral partnerships to stimulate industries that create income and employment for the rural poor. 420) Venture philanthropy focused on innovation in particular sectors, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF’s) Pioneer Portfolio which specialises in health and IT. 421) Philanthropic mutual funds such as the Acumen Fund and the Global Fund for Women.