Investing in Public Life: A Report from the 2003-2004 Dialogues on Civil Investing

At the end of the 20th century, civil investing emerged as one of the most important developments in American philanthropy. Not quite a philosophy, not quite a grantmaking strategy, and not quite a type of grant, civil investing can be broadly defined as the use of philanthropic resources for building community and strengthening public life. This is a report of the 2003–2004 Dialogues on Civil Investing, which brought together foundation executives, community leaders, and nonprofit directors to identify common concerns and develop joint strategies for a new and different kind of grantmaking.