Essays and Articles

This article was excepted from A Family’s Guide to Wealth: Insights from Thought Leaders and Pioneers.

The Moral Dimension of Philanthropy in an Era of Scarcity

Taken from Peter Karoff's talk at La Casa de Maria in Santa Barbara on May 5th, 2009 on the moral dimension of philanthropy.

Why Community Foundations Need an Annual Fund Program

The following article written by Chuck Slosser, a Senior Fellow at TPI and the former President and CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation, is designed to stimulate long-range thinking about how community foundations reach out to high net worth individuals in a more comprehensive, methodical manner. In this time of economic crisis and the attendant cutbacks in gifts, funding and administrative overhead, it’s often difficult to think about launching a new development effort. Yet, the planting of seeds for future harvest is always a beneficial idea.

An Exercise in Collaboration: Professional learning communities offer opportunities

Published by American School Board Journal
Professional learning communities, or PLCs, are colleagues who come together to address the challenges of their work collaboratively. They can be a key factor in the success of business and education organizations alike.

Transformation through Philanthropy: Theory, Fact, and Fiction

Published by The Philanthropic Initiative
In this essay on transformation Peter Karoff presents individual transformation as opposed to system change and proposes that this is where it all begins, starting with a vision for change.

On the Issue of Trust

Published by The Philanthropic Initiative
This essay on the issue of trust is based on the premise that trust in society as a whole is in decline and philanthropic organizations, among many others, are facing a crisis of trust. The erosion of trust within the American society has been well documented long before today's corporate, and investment scandals, but public outrage and loss of confidence is at an all time high. While there are many implications to this dilemma, one pervasive result is that no person, no organization, and no institution, no established leadership, no community of interest - no matter how distinguished or revered - is beyond examination.