Resources from Across the Field
This curated page offers links to select writing and research from a variety of sources across the philanthropic and nonprofit community. Our aim is to show the value of investing in the nonprofit workforce; thus we have organized links into four general categories to help you understand how the lack of investment damages the field; promising practices for investing in nonprofit talent; quantitative data from foundations that have evaluated their talent-investment initiatives; and case studies that share narrative and qualitative data on the value of talent-investment.
To find materials from Fund the People on the investment deficit, visit our Case Making page.
Generating Change: Investing in a New Era of Nonprofit Talent and Leadership
Arnold Chandler, Elizabeth Russell, & Kristen Putnam-Walkerly, Putnam Consulting Group
Commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
The Nonprofit Leadership Development Deficit
Libbie Landles-Cobb, Kirk Kramer, & Katie Smith Milway, The Bridgespan Group
Published in Stanford Social Innovation Review
Under-Investing in Social Sector Leadership
Laura Callanan, The Foundation Center
Nonprofit Challenges: What Foundations Can Do
Ellie Buteau, Andrea Brock, & Mark Chaffin, Center for Effective Philanthropy
The Wages of Peace and Justice: National Compensation Survey of Social Justice Organizations
Margi Clarke, RoadMap Consulting
Published by RoadMap Consulting, DataCenter, & National Organizers Alliance
Good In Theory, Problems in Practice: Young Professionals Views on Popular Leadership Development Strategies
by Dan Dobin & Trish Tchume, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
To find resources from Fund the People on how to invest, visit our How To page.
Smart Funding to Close the Leadership Development Deficit
Libbie Landles-Cobb, Kirk Kramer, Betsy Haley Doyle, The Bridgespan Group
Nonprofit Leadership Development: What’s Your “Plan A” for Growing Future Leaders?
By Kirk Kramer and Preeta Nayak, The Bridgespan Group
Investing in Leadership to Accelerate Philanthropic Impact
Ira Hirschfield, Stanford Social Innovation Review blog Talent Matters series
What is a Leadership Funder?
Jim Canales, Stanford Social Innovation Review blog Talent Matters series
Leveraging Social Sector Leadership
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Investing in Nonprofit Leadership, volume 2: Inspiration and Ideas from Philanthropy’s Latest Frontier
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Leadership Development: Investing in Individuals
Leadership Learning Community and GrantCraft
From Leadership to Impact: Connecting the Dots – Five-Year Evaluation of the Flexible Leadership Awards
By Bill Ryan / Commissioned by Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
Ladder to Leadership: Developing the Next Generation of Community Health Leaders
By Margaret O. Kirk / Commissioned by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Creative Disruption: Sabbaticals for Capacity Building and Leadership Development in the Nonprofit Sector
By Deborah Linnell and Tim Wolfred / commissioned by Alston-Bannerman Fellowship, Barr Foundation, Durfee Foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and Rasmuson Foundation
The Pathway to Leadership: Lessons from Clinic Leadership Institute
By BTW informing change / commissioned by Blue Shield of California Foundation
Preparing the Clinic Leaders of Tomorrow
By BTW informing change / commissioned by Blue Shield of California Foundation
Connecticut Health Foundation’s Health Leadership Fellows Program
By Innovation Network / commissioned by Connecticut Health Foundation
Brief Assessment of The Irvine Foundation’s Fund for Leadership Advancement
By Harder + Company / commissioned by The Irvine Foundation
Creating Broader Impact: The Bush Foundation Fellowships – How Individuals Contribute to the Strength of Communities, Institutions and Fields
Susan Showalter and Vicki Itzkowitz / commissioned by Bush Foundation
To find case studies from Fund the People, visit our Field Stories page.
Internships That Strengthen the Sector: The Cleveland Foundation & Buckeye Area Development Corporation
by Putnam Consulting / commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Keeping Top Talent on Track: American Express Philanthropy & the National Urban League
by Putnam Consulting / commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Developing Leaders for a National Movement: Gill Foundation & Pipeline Project
by Putnam Consulting / commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Helping Leaders Reinvent and Restructure: Haas, Jr. Fund & CompassPoint Nonprofit Services
by Putnam Consulting / commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Creating a Talent Culture in a Time of Growth: The Kresge Foundation, AchieveMission, & Corporation for Supportive Housing
by Putnam Consulting / commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Renewing Leaders for Long-Term Service: Durfee Foundation & Center for the Pacific Asian Family
by Putnam Consulting / commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Crisis Averted – Supporting Leadership Transitions: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Maryland Advocates for Children and Youth, & TransitionGuides
by Putnam Consulting / commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Re-engaging Proven Leaders as Interim Directors: Field Foundation of Illinois & Executive Service Corps of Chicago
by Putnam Consulting / commissioned by Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy