Giving Compass' Take:

• In this Medium post, business analyst Alastair Majury talks about the common errors philanthropic organizations make and ways to sidestep them, while also increasing impact.

• You may be familiar with some of this advice already, but the basics — such as financing development and engaging with communities — are always worth a refresher.

• Here's more on how we can get the most out of failures in philanthropy.


The charitable sector has grown rapidly over the past years. To keep up with the development, new foundations have to know how to continue moving efficiently, without being delayed in a culture that restrains its effectiveness. To guide and educate emerging foundations, below are philanthropy mistakes organizations make, and how they can avoid them.

Making the simple complex. Many boards believe that complexity leads to fairness, inclusion or stewardship, but it creates frustration and chaos.

Managing rather than governing. To avoid managing, foundations should let their employees handle their own jobs. They should avoid the micromanage employee leadership.

Using the poverty mentality. Working with a poverty mentality refers to a foundation that does not invest in development.

Failure to learn. The chance to broaden a person’s knowledge does not end with what they know.

Misunderstanding the power dynamic. [Organizations] should build an environment that enables those with more knowledge about the community’s needs, to feel free and comfortable to share their ideas.

Failure to hold one another accountable. A board is created to ensure that one person’s will does not outweigh the group’s overall judgment.

Read the full article about avoiding mistakes in philanthropy by Alastair Majury at medium.com.