Vision
Our vision for the future, 10 years ahead, is explained below for two sets of expected outcomes from our work: those pertaining directly to GSI operations and those pertaining to society generally.
With respect to GSI operations, we expect
- GuideStars systems operating effectively in more than 30 countries; and
- A formal alliance of all GuideStars, enabled by a powerful, publicly accessible search of every country’s records, which supports (1) pervasive trans-national philanthropy and (2) close, mutually-advantageous relationships and networks.
With respect to society generally, we expect
- Reporting by CSOs to become more lucid, consistent, and integrated with each CSO’s operations, driving better outcomes;
- Intermediaries to exploit GuideStar information for the benefit of their customers, clients and constituents;
- The cost of generating resources for all CSOs to diminish as donors are empowered to behave more proactively in their philanthropy;
- A more level playing field for CSOs to be established;
- Evaluation of the work of CSOs to become more fair, rational and useful.
- CSOs to be judged by the relevance of their programs vis-à-vis societal needs and their ability to reach objectives based on experience and available resources.
- Demand for information by donors, regulators and intermediaries to be satisfied thereby streamlining information provision requirements for CSOs;
- The full range of civil society market-makers to take their respective roles increasingly seriously as they make decisions with the benefit of comprehensive information;
- Donors and grant-makers to become social investors—proactively identifying, comparing, gaining confidence in and giving more generously to CSOs, instead of making low-conviction contributions in response to funding requests;
- Researchers and policy makers to map CSO activity and thereby gain a greater understanding of the actual work, opportunities and needs of their civil societies;
- Oversight agencies to access previously unavailable data to further their legal/ judiciary objectives and, perhaps, pre-empt more intrusive regulatory strategies;
- Society to achieve a far more effective and generous allocation of its resources