Philanthropy: The Movie

There's a new short film scheduled for release this summer called Saving Philanthropy that will question the impact of the $300 billion Americans spend annually on philanthropy. [Thanks, Sean-Stannard Stockton for the head's up today.] That sum, $300 billion, "is more than the GDP of Colombia," the trailer for the film contends. "From 1995 to 2005, the number of foundations in the U.S. increased by 77 percent." So what has society gotten for that $300 billion? It's a good question, producers say. "With so many resources directed to solving our social issues," asks Executive Producer Kate Robinson, "why do they seem to be getting worse instead of better?" Robinson and her brother, Robby, don't think the philanthropy industry is performing well enough, nor adequately measuring its impact. "Viable organizations still aren't having the impact they claim they want to have because they're often not tracking their progress," says Robby. He says he hopes the film will encourage more accountability in the sector.

Here's the unfinished trailer for the film.