In 2012 the world’s problems grew more complex, but America’s top 400 charities saw very little growth in their resources to address them. A forecast issued late in the year by The Chronicle on Philanthropy projected their collective growth at just 1 percent. The outlook is only marginally better for endowments, with returns on their invested capital hovering around 5 percent—as they did in 2011. And while some foundations bucked the trend and made double-digit investment gains in recent years, the average foundation in Chronicle’s analysis netted out 14.9 percent lower than its value in 2007.
Funders Can Give More than Money
The people who write the checks can also be a font of business ideas.
January 11, 2013
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New!
HBR Learning
Finance Essentials Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Finance Essentials. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Strengthen your fluency in financial statements.