Leverage for Good: An Introduction to the New Frontiers of Philanthropy and Social Investment
Lester M. Salamon
Abstract
With the resources of both governments and traditional philanthropy barely growing or in decline, yet the problems of poverty, ill-health, and environmental degradation ballooning daily, it is increasingly clear that new models for financing and promoting social and environmental objectives have become urgently needed. Fortunately, a significant revolution appears to be underway on the frontiers of philanthropy that is providing at least a partial response to this dilemma. The heart of this revolution is a massive explosion in the instruments and institutions being deployed to mobilize private ... More
With the resources of both governments and traditional philanthropy barely growing or in decline, yet the problems of poverty, ill-health, and environmental degradation ballooning daily, it is increasingly clear that new models for financing and promoting social and environmental objectives have become urgently needed. Fortunately, a significant revolution appears to be underway on the frontiers of philanthropy that is providing at least a partial response to this dilemma. The heart of this revolution is a massive explosion in the instruments and institutions being deployed to mobilize private resources, particularly private investment capital, in support of social and environmental objectives. This volume provides a broad overview of these new actors and tools, identifies the factors giving rise to them, examines the major barriers impeding their full development, and outlines a set of steps needed to improve their effectiveness and extend their reach. In the process, it serves as a basic introduction to a companion volume edited by Lester M. Salamon entitled New Frontiers of Philanthropy that examines these new actors and tools in greater depth.
Keywords:
social impact investment,
social enterprise,
social stock markets,
debt,
private equity,
credit enhancements,
leverage,
capital aggregators,
foundations as philanthropic banks,
social impact bonds
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2014 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780199376520 |
| Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: June 2014 |
DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199376520.001.0001 |
