And of course you’ll also continue to receive timely updates from the field via the Around the Horn series, of which this post is merely the latest episode!
- OK, tell me if you’ve heard this one: Ted Turner, Bill Gates, Mike Boomberg, and Oprah walk into
a barRockefeller University to discuss how to solve the world’s problems. This “secret meeting” is probably about as close to a “sexy news story about philanthropy” as this field is going to get. Too bad the reporter who would write such a story at the paper of record isn’t interested. - Nick Rabkin has a first-hand account of the recent meeting between grassroots arts activists and the White House over at the Americans for the Arts blog. There’s also this cool story about a group of creative types trying to make a difference (and seemingly having some success) in Alexandria, VA.
- The economy claims another victim, as there will be no JVC Jazz Festival this year.
- Times Square is now closed to vehicle traffic between 42nd and 47th Streets. So far so good, says the Times.
- Great idea:
To address the economic reality that more Massachusetts residents will be staying local this summer rather than taking pricey vacations, the [Highland Street] Foundation also announced its Free Fun Fridays will kick off July 3. Every Friday for two months, admission will be free at different cultural institutions. The institutions include locations such as the Museum of Science, Peabody Essex Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield Museum and the Boston Harbor Alliance.
- My (now former) business school was kind enough to post this profile of me on their website a couple of weeks ago. You can read other profiles of current and former Yale SOM students here.
- Consultant Kris Putnam-Walkerly has a very helpful list of 15 Things to Do Right Now if you’re starting a consulting business. Though she mentions consulting specifically, many of her nuts-and-bolts suggestions are equally applicable to anyone looking to start a small business, including independent artists and musicians.
- This week’s BLOGGERS ON FIRE are 1. Richard Florida, for posting like 7,000 entries on Creative Class Exchange this week in addition to guest-blogging at Andrew Sullivan’s Daily Dish and his weekly blog at The Atlantic; 2. Holden Karnofsky, for asking the tough questions that matter: What can the developed world teach the developing world? and Why not just give out cash?
Why do cash handouts seem to be so rare in the charity world? Perhaps it’s because extensive experience and study have shown this approach to be inferior to others. Or perhaps it has more to do with the fact that giving out cash fundamentally puts the people, rather than the charity, in control.
Holden and the Givewell team have also provided some additional follow-up on the Harlem Children Zone study mentioned two Around the Horns ago. I have been known to give Givewell a bit of a hard time in the past, but I cannot tell you how remarkable and valuable a service it is to translate studies such as these from academese to real, actionable recommendations in ways that are both agenda-free and faithful to high standards of scientific measurement and analysis. Having done a fair bit of literature review myself for my public policy and the arts independent study, I can attest that doing it well requires hours of painstaking work and a keen eye for distinguishing useful information from red herrings. You can read Givewell’s latest charity reviews here, though the list is still in progress.
- Tactical Philanthropy‘s Sean Stannard-Stockton will be participating in a live Chronicle of Philanthropy chat tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon eastern time.