10.8: Assignments (fix this and back matter)
- Page ID
- 292451
This page is a draft and is under active development.
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Critical Essay 1500 words Compare Rob Reich’s critique of philanthropy’s democratic deficits with Michael Edwards’s civil society lens. Where do they converge, and how would you translate their ideas into concrete foundation policies. Cite at least five sources in APA.
Case Study Analysis Select a philanthropic initiative in health or education. Map its governance, who sets priorities, how funds flow, what outcomes are measured, and how community voice is integrated. Recommend two changes that would improve legitimacy and impact.
Platform Audit Presentation Analyze a recent digital fundraising campaign. Evaluate narrative framing, attention dynamics, disbursement pathways, and local partner capacity. Propose design tweaks for equity and accountability.
Grant Design Lab Group Co-create a participatory micro-fund for a specific community priority. Draft selection criteria, a decision process with community seats, multi-year funding logic, and exit strategy. Prepare a two page prospectus and a five minute pitch.
Responsible Giving Guide Produce a donor guide that a first time giver can use to ensure money or time reaches those who truly need it. Include a due diligence checklist, red flags, and a template email for asking grantees about overhead, governance, and learning practices.
Design Lab: Build a Philanthropy Model That Actually Helps
Overview
Philanthropy is often presented as a force for good. But as this chapter shows, how giving is structured matters just as much as how much is given. Poorly designed philanthropy can reinforce inequality, centralize power, and overlook the voices of the very communities it aims to support. Thoughtfully designed philanthropy, on the other hand, can strengthen local systems, expand participation, and produce lasting change.
In this Design Lab, you will step into the role of a philanthropic architect. Your task is to design a funding model that addresses a real-world issue while navigating the tensions explored in this chapter, including:
- Power and democratic accountability
- Effectiveness vs. equity
- Global expertise vs. local knowledge
- Short-term impact vs. long-term systems change
You will draw explicitly from both case studies:
- The Gates Foundation model (scale, metrics, global influence)
- The BRAC model (community-led, participatory, locally grounded)
Your goal is not to pick one model, but to design something better.
Your Challenge
Design a philanthropic initiative or micro-foundation that addresses a specific issue (e.g., global health, education access, climate resilience, digital inequality, refugee support).
Your model must answer a core question:
How can philanthropy create meaningful change without reproducing the very inequalities it seeks to solve?
Deliverables (Choose One Format)
Option A: Design Brief
A 3–4 page proposal that outlines your philanthropic model.
Option B: Pitch Deck
A 8–10 slide presentation (Google Slides, PowerPoint, Canva) with speaker notes.
Option C: Creative Prototype
A visual or interactive model (website mockup, infographic system map, or campaign prototype) + 2-page explanation.
Required Components
1. Problem Definition (Why This Matters)
- What issue are you addressing?
- Who is most affected and why?
- Why is this issue often misunderstood, underfunded, or poorly addressed?
2. Model Design (How It Works)
Describe your philanthropic model in detail:
- Who makes decisions about funding?
- How are priorities set?
- What role do local communities play?
- How is funding distributed (grants, direct cash, partnerships, etc.)?
👉 Explicitly explain how your model:
- Avoids the white savior complex
- Addresses the democratic deficit in philanthropy
- Incorporates participatory or community-led elements
3. Power Analysis (Who Holds Power?)
- Who has power in your model and why?
- How is power shared, limited, or redistributed?
- What safeguards exist to prevent abuse or imbalance?
👉 This is where you directly engage with:
- Reich (philanthropy as power)
- Neo-colonial critique
4. Impact Strategy (What Success Looks Like)
- What outcomes are you trying to achieve?
- How will you measure success?
👉 You must balance:
- Quantitative metrics (Gates-style)
- Qualitative/community-defined outcomes (BRAC-style)
5. Accountability & Transparency
- How will your organization be held accountable?
- Who can challenge decisions or provide feedback?
- What information is publicly available?
6. Sustainability & Exit Strategy
- How will your model avoid dependency (aid trap)?
- What happens after funding ends?
- How does your model strengthen existing systems?
7. Design Synthesis
In 1–2 paragraphs, answer:
What makes your model different from traditional philanthropy?
This is your chance to be bold, creative, and critical.
Design Constraints
Your model must:
- Operate within a clear budget range (you choose: small $100K fund or large $50M initiative)
- Be implementable in the real world
- Include at least one trade-off or limitation you acknowledge
Add one of the following:
- “What Could Go Wrong” Section
Describe how your model might fail or be misused. - Stakeholder Roleplay
Include a short scripted dialogue between a donor, community member, and policymaker debating your model. - Visual System Map
Show how money, power, and decision-making flow through your model.