Joel Fleishman on the Role of Foundations

Joel Fleishman, author of The Foundation: A Great American Secret, discusses the crucial role foundations play in fostering social innovation, breaks down the recent trends and misfortunes that shape the nonprofit sector today, and urges foundations to find greater success through greater openness.

Joel Fleishman is chairman of the Urban Institute Board of Trustees and professor of law and public policy at Duke University.

1. What is the state of philanthropy today? (3:07)

How has the recession affected giving and nonprofit organizations?

2. The "Great American Secret" (3:00)

What have foundations done for us? And why it's important we know.

3. Madoff, the market meltdown, and a culture shift in foundations (6:37)

How the nonprofit environment has changed in recent years.

4. Making foundations more successful (2:49)

Why accountability and transparency are necessary to make foundations more effective.