This issue includes research notes on the advantages of volunteering, social impact bounds, crowdfunding, foundations, leadership, impact investing, and INGO accountability. The ERNOP Research Notes for Philanthropy Practitioners are easy-to-read, nicely edited and visualised two-page summaries of academic articles from ERNOP members focusing on implications for practice.

What is the most successful approach on a reward-based crowdfunding platform?
Authors:  Kévin André (ESSEC Business School), Sylvain Bureau (ESCP), Arthur Gautier (ESSEC Business School), Olivier Rubel (UC Davis)
Provided by: Katherine Hermans (Global Changemakers)

Reward-based crowdfunding, an online fundraising method, is on the rise, and this article interprets the results of a statistical analysis of 3,000 projects to understand which projects are most successful. Is reciprocity the best approach when raising funds on a crowdfunding platform?

#Altruism #Crowdfunding #Fundraising #Reciprocity

Aligning interests, accountabilities and Social Impact Bonds
Authors: Reinhard Millner (WU Vienna), Michael Meyer (WU Vienna)
Provided by: Sophie HersbergerLangloh (Consense Philanthropy Consulting)

The authors examine the case of the first Social Impact Bond (SIB) in Austria and take a closer look at the influence of the – often divergent – interests of the parties involved. Key questions: How do different interests and accountabilities shape the arrangement of a SIB? How do they influence its collaborative governance?

#SocialImpact #Innovation #Investors #Accountability #Governance

Strengthening engagement with philanthropic foundations
Authors: Tobias Jung (University of St Andrews), Kevin Orr (University of St Andrews)
Provided by: Maliha Hasan (University of Toronto)

The authors suggest using a distinct way to advance our theoretical understanding of philanthropic institutions known as ‘foundations’. They suggest using spectrality – a lens that enables an exploration of important social, ethical and political questions of influence and nuance, historical reasonings, people, practices and perspectives that may not be blatantly obvious, clearly stated or even rooted in the present but influence how foundations are set up, their impact, operations and how they are perceived. They propose and critically explore spectrality as a strategic platform from which stronger theorizing on philanthropic foundations as a distinct institutional form can proceed.

#Philanthropy #Foundations #Engagement #Ethics

What organisational factors affect volunteering?
Authors: Sibylle Studer  (University of Basel), Georg von Schnurbein (University of Basel)
Provided by: Nevena Mijatovi? (University of Belgrade)

This study aimed to shed light on the organisational factors affecting volunteers that were previously captured in the academic literature. The authors systematically analysed abstracts of 396 publications tackling volunteer coordination from different scientific disciplines and research traditions
#Volunteer #Coordination #Management #Organization #Review

Volunteering is most beneficial for elderly and less healthy Europeans

Author: Arjen de Wit (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Heng Qu (Texas A&M University), René?Bekkers (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Provided by: Katherine Hermans from Global Changemakers

The article examines the health advantages of volunteering for European adults. Does volunteering have health benefits? And if so, who benefits most? The results of the study suggest volunteering not only has a positive impact on society as a whole but may also indicate a health advantage for volunteers over the age of 60 and those in poor health. In almost all European countries, volunteers report better health than non-volunteers, indicating that policymakers should promote volunteering as a possible route to better health and healthy ageing.
#Volunteering #Aging #Health #Society

What is key for crowdfunding success and how can we explain it?

Authors:  Claire van Teunenbroek – University of Twente | Carolina Dalla Chiesa – Erasmus University Rotterdam | Laura Hesse – Universität Hamburg
Provided by: Jane Trenaman (Freelance Consultant)

Against the backdrop of accelerated digitisation of fundraising, exploration of the key features of crowdfunding is well underway. Crowdfunding is a way to collect funds online. This paper categorises key mechanisms to create a framework to analyse the impact of such features on online donor behaviour.  Understanding the role of these mechanisms will aid fundraisers in positively influencing donation behaviour to enhance the success of projects and campaigns.
#Crowdfunding #Giving #Donor #Online #Digitalisation

Six essential dimensions for impact investing

Authors: Kai Hockerts – Copenhagen Business School | Lisa Hehenberger – Esade | Stefan Schaltegger – Leuphana University Lüneburg | Vanina Farber – IMD
Provided by: Bob Galesloot from BGEZ

Impact investing aims to generate social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. However, the exact definition and the concept itself are not always clear, which affects the use and potential of impact investing. In this article, the authors provide a way to understand the concept of impact investing and introduce critical questions to facilitate discussions regarding whether a case can be described as impact investing.

#ImpactInvesting #BusinessEthics #Impact #Foundations

Comprehensive INGO accountability improves perceived effectiveness

Authors: Alice Hengevoss – University of Basel
Provided by: Scott Mcdonald from Root Capital

International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) have been under increased scrutiny from the public and academia. Critics argue that INGOs should be more accountable to various stakeholders, particularly to beneficiaries. Evidence shows that a more comprehensive approach to accountability can improve INGO performance. This paper analyses survey data of over 200 INGO leaders in 21 countries to develop a framework for comprehensive accountability. The framework identifies three accountability approaches, or logics: resource logic, outcome assessment logic, and discursive logic.

#INGOs #Accountability #INGOEffectiveness #Philanthropy #NonprofitManagement

Delivering effective leadership transitions and succession planning in nonprofits

Author: Nils Geib – Universität Hamburg | Silke Boenigk – Universität Hamburg
Provided by: Sufina Ahmad (John Ellerman Foundation)

This study argues that effective nonprofit leadership continuity or succession planning should be a shared leadership responsibility that Boards deliver, Executive Directors/Division Executives and Human Resources (HR) professionals working together. The researchers hypothesise that nonprofit succession planning is rarely considered or applied by nonprofits and primarily involves Boards and Executive Directors/Division Executives.

#Leadership #Management #NonprofitLeadership #SuccssionManagement #SharedLeadership