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Tackling Global Problems: The Role of Foundations

Tackling Global Problems: The Role of Foundations. Second OECD Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy June 27, 2007. Evolution of Foundations. Originated by Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Margaret Olivia Sage Foundations differ within and among countries

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Tackling Global Problems: The Role of Foundations

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  1. Tackling Global Problems:The Role of Foundations Second OECD Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy June 27, 2007

  2. Evolution of Foundations • Originated by Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Margaret Olivia Sage • Foundations differ within and among countries • US: corporate, community, family foundations • Europe: large number of operating, rather than grant-making, foundations • US still has highest concentration of foundations (50,000), Europe (> 90,000)

  3. Foundations Play Two Important Roles • Society’s R&D • Identify and fund the development of ideas, demonstrations, pilot programs • Take risks and challenge convention Catalyze Change • Systematically examine problems and possible solutions • Gather and analyze data • Disseminate knowledge of what works Promote Evidence-Based Learning

  4. Foundations Catalyzing Change:Development of Public Libraries • Idea of equal access to books and educational materials was revolutionary and controversial • By the 1920s, funding from Carnegie and his foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, had led to the creation of 1,679 libraries in the US alone • Andrew Carnegie created more than 2,500 libraries worldwide

  5. Foundations Catalyzing Change • Creation of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • Creation of Social Science Research Council • Social Security study group • Green Revolution--agricultural research centers in the 1960s in response to threat of widespread starvation in developing countries

  6. Foundations Catalyzing Change: 911 • 1970s: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided 44 grants in 32 states for regional emergency medical services • RWJF program demonstrated the concept of a regionalized, systematic approach • The federal government made a series of grants that resulted in today's USA-wide 911 system

  7. By investing in data and evidence foundations help: • Enhance public accountability • Enable informed evaluation of alternatives to understand tradeoffs among competing issues • De-politicize decision making • Advance information over ideology

  8. The Role of Foundations in Evidence-Based Learning • Provide research fellowships • Sponsor research, data collection and analysis • Fund program evaluation, esp. random assignment (Hope VI and Opportunity NYC) • Provide support for devoted, data-driven projects such as Key National Indicators Initiative: State of the USA

  9. Evidence-Based Learning: Key National Indicators Initiative (KNII) • National Academies: State of the USA • Robust set of independent and balanced indicators designed to quantify the position and progress of the US on multiple dimensions (economic, social, environmental) • Designed for scientific credibility as well as broad accessibility • Available for free on the internet

  10. State of the USA • Broaden understanding of changing conditions • Enrich civic dialogue and enhance public accountability for national progress • Enable informed evaluation of alternatives to understand tradeoffs among competing issues • Enhance collaboration and problem solving by providing data that foster rational priorities • De-politicize decision making • Information over ideology

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