Industry Challenges
Foundations and other philanthropic organizations are a critical piece in the landscape of social-sector organizations. They fulfill a wide range of functions, although they are often unclear on how to make a unique contribution and find their niche in the philanthropy universe. Key among their concerns are which issues, populations, and regions they should target and what role they should play in the projects they undertake. To be as effective as possible, they must answer a number of critical questions:
How can we ensure that our efforts significantly improve the lives of those benefited while reaching the largest number of beneficiaries?
How can we measure and track the social impact generated by our interventions on an ongoing basis?
Can we assess different types of potential interventions to determine which would have the greatest impact?
How do we structure our organization to be lean and efficient?
How do we balance near-term versus long-term impact?
How can we attract and retain talent?
BCG Competencies
BCG works with these organizations on a broad variety of topics:
Supporting the development of their portfolio strategy and deciding which strategic focus areas and projects to target for the greatest impact
Measuring and increasing the impact of their work, as well as understanding the social return on their investment
Designing their organizations to suit their specific needs and work effectively and efficiently, while also developing strong management and board governance systems
Improving their funding and collaboration strategies, including decisions about their financial model and strategies around potential endowment levels
Recruiting talent and developing retention policies, as well as identifying appropriate partners and building long-term strategic relationships
We draw on our broad experience with many large foundations and leverage our work with corporations, nongovernmental organizations, governments, and intergovernmental organizations. A strong network of experts around the world gives BCG a global perspective while also bringing local knowledge to our clients