Keystone's Study of Social Marketplaces

Our friends ate Keystone have just published a remarkable study of social market places that is available at: www. keystoneaccountability.org/node/159.

It tracks and examines the growth of online philanthropic marketplaces and their potential to create an informational basis for results-oriented giving and encouraging greater accountability.  The study finds that while there is great potential and the marketplaces are doing remarkable work, there is still a need for clear criteria to determine effectiveness and impact.

It's a long read but worth reading through during train rides.

Franziska Zeiner's Blog on Indian NGOs

Our friend and co-worker Franziska Zeiner is creating a photo-blog capturing many NGOs in India.  There are great photos and excellent commentary.  If you are interested in finding out about Indian organizations that could use some support, this is a great reference.

http://clicksonngos.blogspot.com

Interview with Fay Twersky

http://www.alliancemagazine.org/online/html/aonov07a.html

Here is a link to a Fay Twersky interview from November 2007. It discusses some key issues related to impact measurement. Ms. Twersky is Director of Impact Planning and Improvement at the Gates Foundation and has great insight on the topic.

Allowing for Growing Pains

Some preliminary feedback on our reports suggests that we may need to make two forms of reports, one for HNIs and one for corporate donors. The HNI reports need to be shorter and more anecdotal. The corporate reports need to be closer to financial disclosures.

We have generally leaned toward the corporate model, shying away from photos and anecdotes because we don’t want to encourage that type of behavior. Also, it is difficult to verify such stories unless we actually listen and make a record of those stories. It would be great if we could, but given our resource limitations, we are trying to figure how to “humanize” our reports without having to reply on the NGOs for their stories because we can not be 100% certain that they are correct.

One of the dangers in measuring the effectiveness is that it might dissuade the innovativeness of the projects funders are prepared to support. Measures if not tailored correctly will be overly harsh on new groups as they test out new interventions and approaches to solving problems. If this is calculated without some leniency for such innovativeness these organizations will look worse and donors may shy away from them.

Thus, measurement standards must strike the right balance between innovation and effectiveness. This means that means that measurement frameworks, especially in the beginning of an organization’s life, must to be tailored to allow for innovation. As a organization grows and matures, more stringent measurement criteria can be applied.

The key point is that a “one-size-fits-all” approach will not work.

Tailoring Reports for Different Donors

Some preliminary feedback on our reports suggests that we may need to make two forms of reports, one for HNIs and one for corporate donors. The HNI reports need to be shorter and more anecdotal. The corporate reports need to be closer to financial disclosures.

We have generally leaned toward the corporate model, shying away from photos and anecdotes because we don’t want to encourage that type of behavior. Also, it is difficult to verify such stories unless we actually listen and make a record of those stories. It would be great if we could, but given our resource limitations, we are trying to figure how to “humanize” our reports without having to reply on the NGOs for their stories because we can not be 100% certain that they are correct.

Good idea but maybe think about what people actually need?

I was on Facebook today when a pop up add came up with a picture of a young Indian girl and said "24 Hour Famine". So I googled it and it turns out that World Vision is asking people to get sponsored "to go go without for 24 hours, so that someone else doesn’t have to." The idea is to raise funds and awareness for a new project they are doing for street children in Chennai.

While I applaud their efforts -- which are laudable -- it is proper nutrition rather than starvation that is an issue in India. I point this story out only as an example of what we have seen with foreign organizations in India. They often intervene with the best of intentions but with preconceived notions of what should be done. And those preconceptions often are incorrect and therefore lead the organization astray.

This is why it is not only important to consult with experts but also with stakeholders and beneficiaries. They will give you a better picture of the problem and correct misconceptions.

NY Times Article on Education Highlights Major Issues

Here is a NY Times article on education in India. It points out some of the issues we have seen in India: (1) mistrust of public education; (2) consumer driven culture; (3) increase in the cost of living; (4) lack of attention to the rural problems; and (5) middle class resentment of helping the poor.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/world/asia/06school.html?_r=1&oref=