Debating the Effectiveness of Antipoverty Efforts, Plus More: Monday’s Roundup
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
November 23, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
- A robust and much-needed debate has erupted about how to solve global poverty with a flood of new books on the issue, writes Nicholas D. Kristof, a New York Times columnist. The discussion, he says, is one that will help define the future of America.
- With last week’s news that 49 million Americans lack consistent access to adequate food, Katherine Gustafson, a freelance writer, wonders if the growing problem demonstrates a lack of compassion by the country. Her views appear on the Change.org blog.
- The fund-raising consultants Robert I. Evans and Avrum D. Lapin ask on eJewish Philanthropy whether nonprofit groups have forgotten the power of a well-placed thank you.
- While applauding the work of Philanthropedia, an organization that connects people with giving experts, Richard Marker, a donor consultant, wonders on his blog how different the effort is from United Ways, community foundations, and other established services.
- In a satirical blog article poking fun at Western antipoverty advocates, William Easterly, an economics professor at New York University, says a commission of African leaders has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of the band U2, including hiring several African consultants to analyze its music and a rigorous evaluation of its effectiveness.
- Sandra Miniutti, vice president of marketing at Charity Navigator, discusses on the organization’s blog how to teach 5-year-olds about philanthropy.
