Giving Compass' Take:

• EPIC Foundation's Nicola Crosta gives a primer on impact philanthropy in comparison to impulse-driven giving, and explains why the former is the better way to go.

• For those still new to the tenets of impact philanthropy, this is a good introduction, but even veterans may find it useful to get a perspective on main principles at work to stay on target.

• Here's how to pioneer a people-centered approach to impact philanthropy.


During the last 3 years I have had the opportunity to oversee an analysis that covered over 2,500 non-profits and 500+ donors around the World.

The analysis confirmed an important trend: giving is on the rise, pretty much everywhere. Overall, individuals are giving more, corporations are giving more, both in advanced and in developing countries. This is really good news.

Two, very distinct ways of giving are emerging: I’ll call them “Impact Philanthropy” and “Impulse Philanthropy”. These two ways of giving differ substantially. Impact philanthropy is focused on results. Impulse Philanthropy is driven by the recognition that the individual or corporate donor expects from it.

Both approaches to giving I outlined are possible and both can produce positive outcomes, even the more superficial, ‘Impulse Philanthropy’. But it is fairly obvious that ‘impulse’ giving has a major drawback: in the short term, it results in an inefficient and ineffective allocation of philanthropic resources. This means quite simply that money doesn’t go to the most impactful organizations.

Every single player in the philanthropic industry, every individual donor, corporation or foundation can consider the differences between the two approaches outlined in this note and make a choice: to adopt impulse philanthropy or to become part of impact philanthropy.

Read the full article about impact vs. impulse philanthropy by Nicola Crosta on Medium.