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Dara Major
Philanthropy & Social Sector Consulting

Dara Major Philanthropy & Social Sector ConsultingDara Major Philanthropy & Social Sector ConsultingDara Major Philanthropy & Social Sector Consulting

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Publications | Presentations | Awards

Philanthropy & Social Sector Leadership at a Time of Crisis

Philanthropy New York News. Now is the time for foundation and social sector leaders everywhere to embody mission like never before, and with a renewed sense of urgency.

For All Girls: A Girl Scouts Guide to Organizational Inclusion and Belonging

Action guide focused on the organizational competencies that drive and enable diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice. Girl Scouts of the USA. 

Foundation Frameworks for Private Foundations: A New Model for Impact

Leadership Series Report, GrantCraft | Foundation Center, in partnership with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Named one of GrantCraft's "Five Favorite Publications of the Year."

The Impact of Philanthropy

Instructor, LearnPhilanthropy online course. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Grand Valley State University.

Cultivating Communities of Hope: A Collective Vision for Strengthening Staten Island

Biennial Report, The Staten Island Foundation

Legacy Foundations and Risk-Taking: Different Approaches to Empowered Philanthropy

Philanthropy New York News. Named a "Weekend Read" by the Jewish Funders Network.

Advancing Diversity and Inclusion By Design: A Guide for Building Vibrant Junior Leagues

Comprehensive organizational action guide to centering diversity and inclusion in and across this network of 400 nonprofit organizations, with 150,000+ civic and community leaders in four countries. Association of Junior Leagues International.

Reframing the Conversation: A Briefing Paper Series on Growing Social Impact.

Series of eight peer-reviewed publications for Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.  Named a "Must Read" by the National Network of Network Funders.

  • What Do We Mean by Scale?
  • How Do Networks Support Scale?
  • How Do We Approach Impact and Evaluation in the Context of Scale?
  • How Does Financial Sustainability. Relate to Growth — and What Can Grantmakers Do to Support It?
  • How Can Grantmakers Support Readiness to Scale Impact?
  • How Can Grantmakers Aggregate Resources to Grow Impact?
  • Expanding the Impact of Grantees: How Do We Build the Capacity of Nonprofits to Evaluate, Learn and Improve?
  • How Can Grantmakers Focus on Nonprofit Talent to Grow Impact?

Redefining Disaster Preparedness and Resilience

Stanford Social Innovation Review. Named a top Twitter article of the week.

Private Foundations and Public Policy: Critical Issues in Contemporary American Philanthropy

Syllabus for semester-long graduate seminar, Duke University, Sanford School of Public Policy. Inaugural course, subsequently offered annually as "Philanthropy: The Powers of Money."

Strengthening a Culture of Collaboration

20th Anniversary Report, The Staten Island Foundation

Expert Q & A: Strategic, Emergent or (fill in the blank) Philanthropy: What's the right approach?

Over the last century or so of philanthropic practice, multiple pathways for achieving results have emerged. What’s a grantmaker to do? Which path is right for you / your program or initiative / your organization? This article explores how to make sense of established and emerging approaches in philanthropy. LearnPhilanthropy.org.

Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Staten Island Nonprofits: A Town Hall Event

Report for The Staten Island Foundation.

LearnPhilanthropy: Q & A with Dara Major

Interview with Center for High Impact Philanthropy, University of Pennsylvania.

Bridging Learners and Content to Create New Value at LearnPhilanthropy

Report for the Council on Foundations and Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers.

Engaging Community Philanthropy: Recommendations for the Federal Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding

Report for The Staten Island Foundation, Brooklyn Community Foundation and Long Island Community Foundation.

Big Disasters Meet Big Data: Philanthropy, Disasters and Innovative Collective Capacity

Presenter, Independent Sector Annual Conference.

Performance: Effectiveness, Accountability and the Politics of Data

Guest Lecture, Policy Seminar, Duke University.

Private Foundations and Public Policy: Critical Issues in Contemporary American Philanthropy

Syllabus for semester-long graduate seminar, Duke University, Terry Sanford School of Public Policy. Inaugural course, subsequently offered annually as "Philanthropy: The Powers of Money."

Advancing Philanthropic Practice: Landscape, Current Reality, and Opportunities for the Future.

Report for Duke University, Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society, Sanford Institute of Public Policy.

Generative Planning: Values, Goals and Family Philanthropy

Concinnity article, Surdna Foundation.

Accountability, Effectiveness and Organizational Change: Success Measures

Guest Lecture, MPA Seminar, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.

Outstanding Board Leadership: A Conversation with the Winners of the Brooke Mahoney Award

Panelist. Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management / VCG Governance Matters, School of Public Affairs, Baruch College City University of New York.

The Rockefeller Foundation Award for Extraordinary Teamwork

Awarded for special assignment on organizational development.


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