Digest: Studies, Books, Web Sites, and Other Publications

2004, 283 pages. Lexington Books Lanham, MD, 20706

Based on a study of thirty multi-generational Canadian and U.S. family foundations, this book looks at "stages and transitions" in the lives of these foundations. It puts them into historical context, illustrates foundation development and transition, and focuses primarily on topics of governance, continuity, and how families organize themselves to reach their goals. Academic in tone, it is more an overview of how family foundations have evolved over time than a practical guide.

2004, 80 pages. Artrain USA Ann Arbor, MI, 48104

The essays that accompany this four-color exhibition catalog of "Native Views," an art show of contemporary works by Native American artists, explore how Native artists are influenced by popular culture. The exhibition, presented by Artrain USA, is housed in vintage rail cars and is touring the country via the nation's railways. Guest curator Joanna Osburn Bigfeather lends her perspective to the works along with the other essayists.

2005, 80 pages. Cultural Initiatives Silicon Valley 1153 Lincoln Avenue, Suite I, San Jose

2004, 119 pages. The Global Business Network, 5900-X Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, 510-547-6822,

PDF available for download at: The Global Business Network

Welcome to the future! This book aims to better prepare nonprofit leaders by familiarizing them with scenario thinking, a tool formerly in the exclusive domain of the business world. An offshoot of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation's Organizational Effectiveness Program, this guide can be downloaded either in its entirety or in independent sections.

2005, 24 pages. Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, 1413 K Street, NW, 2nd floor, Washington, DC, 20005

Download pdf: Grantmakers for Effective Organizations

This report examines current topics in philanthropic evaluation and showcases innovative approaches to evaluation being used by grantmakers, both large and small. Through three essays and concise, informative case studies, evaluation is shown to be an opportunity to learn about one's grantmaking and to increase its effectiveness.

2005, 139 pages. Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Fieldstone Alliance Publishing Center, Saint Paul, MN, 55107

In this guide, York promotes the concept of "evaluative learning" to help funders use evaluation to build capacity and increased effectiveness in their grantees' organizations. Examinations of capacity building, organizational effectiveness, current and typical uses of evaluations, and the philosophy of evaluations lead to a step-by-step, soup-to-nuts guide to planning for and implementing evaluative learning.

April 2005, 6 pages. Wallace Foundation, Two Park Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY, 10016, 212-251-9700

PDF available for download at the Wallace Foundation website.

Wallace President M. Christine DeVita discusses the Foundation's experiences and early lessons in measuring its own effectiveness, as presented at the 2005 Council on Foundations annual conference. This straightforward approach and simple set of questions provides a useful resource for the small or family foundation wanting to address the question, "How are we doing?"

May 2005, The Urban Institute, 2100 M Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20037, (202) 833-7200, www.urban.org

"The idea that expressive activities contribute to building and preserving communities has become an increasingly important part of economic development and community revitalization discourse in cities, towns and nations around the world."
Carole Rosenstein, Ph.D.

2004, 171 pages. Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Washington, DC, 20063

2005, 217 pages. Berrett Koehler Publishers, 235 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916, 415-288-0260, Berrett-Koehler