Impact Vehicles & Structures
Leveraging the Right Medium to Achieve Your Goals
Always remember, form follows function.
Philanthropy takes many forms. The selection of a social impact vehicle is an important consideration in the pursuit of effective philanthropy.
Your choice of social impact vehicle(s) (your form) must follow your philanthropic purpose and goals for social impact (your function).
Start by determining your goals. Consider the following:
- Why (and where)? Your philanthropic purpose will inform a vehicle choice with the most flexiblity to achieve that purpose.
- Who? Your governance framework will inform your vehicle’s founding documents.
- What resources? Consider the “5 Ts”: Time, talent, ties, testimony, and treasure.
- Which pathways? How can targeted use of your resources catalyze outsized impact?
- How structured or complex?
- When? What is your intended lifespan?
Designed to help you leverage the vehicle(s) that best support your mission, this primer and the following content offer clarity and direction.
