The Council on Foundations and the Center for Public Interest Communications have unveiled a report, titled "Philanthropy’s New Voice," that underscores the findings of an extensive study on narratives in philanthropy. This study is considered to be the largest of its kind.
According to a joint press release, the report identifies a disconnect between Americans and philanthropy. However, this gap is primarily attributed to how philanthropic organizations frame their messages. The report also proposes strategies that foundations can adopt to foster understanding and trust.
The press release further elaborates that the report is grounded in a multimethod study carried out over 12 months. A segment of this study involved scrutinizing ten distinct types of storytelling narratives, all of which bolstered perceived trust, transparency, and effectiveness. Nonetheless, some narratives enhanced trust more than others, particularly those offering details on how a foundation allocates its funds and makes decisions.
The research also encompassed interviews with congressional staffers and an examination of congress members' social media posts, as per the press release. These elements of the study revealed that most members of Congress hold positive views about philanthropy. Despite showing more interest in collaboration with foundations than in tightening regulations, congress members do not partner with charities due to a lack of comprehension about the sector.
"It’s clear from our research that the American public, members of Congress and their staff, and sector practitioners want foundations to be more transparent and share details about how philanthropy works," said Ann Searight Christiano, Director at the Center for Public Interest Communications and co-author of the report. She added: "Using this report, foundations can learn how to tell relatable, ethical stories that provide the right kind of transparency, including nitty-gritty details and the perspectives of foundation staff and community partners."
