Private philanthropists have helped to propel some of the most important stories of social impact of the past century: eradicating polio, establishing the 911 emergency service, securing the right to marry for same-sex couples, to name just a few. Today's emerging philanthropists seek similar breakthroughs but can find themselves struggling with the "how." A Bridgespan article, featured in the September–October 2017 issue of Harvard Business Review, highlights 15 historic examples of large-scale social change and a framework of five elements that influenced their success. Those elements include:
- Build a shared understanding of the problem and its ecosystem
- Set “winnable milestones” and hone a compelling message
- Design approaches that will work at massive scale
- Drive (rather than assume) demand
- Embrace course corrections
You can also read detailed descriptions of each of the 15 initiatives at The Bridgespan Group.