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Getting to Transparency that Matters

Date: February 8, 2012

Stephen Sullivan

Senior Coordinator, Communications and Programming, Center for Effective Philanthropy

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On December 6, 2011, the Center for Effective Philanthropy hosted a panel discussion titled Power & Light: Grappling with Transparency and Effectiveness in San Francisco. Presented in collaboration with Foundation Center and sponsored by the Irvine Foundation, the event featured Phil Buchanan, president of CEP; Emmett D. Carson, CEO and president of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation; Christy Pichel, president of the Stuart Foundation; and Bradford Smith, president of Foundation Center.

The panel explored the tensions that arise as foundations attempt to be both more transparent and more effective about achieving impact. Here is some of what Phil had to say over the course of the conversation.

As Phil mentioned in a blog post shortly after the event, foundations have made progress when it comes to transparency. Still, Phil argues, there is a long, long way to go to raise the bar on what constitutes transparency that matters.

You can view a full recording of the Power & Light event on the CEP YouTube page.

Stephen Sullivan is Senior Coordinator – Communications & Programming at the Center for Effective Philanthropy.

Editor’s Note: CEP publishes a range of perspectives. The views expressed here are those of the authors, not necessarily those of CEP.

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