The Ombuds Blog: Gates Foundation Considering Ombuds

February 11, 2010

Gates Foundation Considering Ombuds

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is implementing a number of changes to improve its work internally and with beneficiaries. The foundation has an endowment in excess of $30 billion and has tripled its staff in the past four years. B&MGF's Chief Executive, Jeff Raikes, has already revised internal operations. In addition, Raikes promised changes by June to enhance communications with charities, including the possibility of an Ombuds position. As it considers an Ombuds program the Gates Foundation would be well advised to consult another leading nonprofit, the American Red Cross, which created an Ombuds office with similar objectives in 2007. (Chronicle of Philanthropy; Puget Sound Business Journal.)

Related posts: Philanthropic Foundations Urged to Implement Ombuds; Red Cross Issues Second Annual Report.

1 comment:

Anonymous2/11/2010 5:40 AM
Listen ... That's the sound of hundreds of ombuds and aspiring ombuds swooning over the thought of a job with a leading nonprofit, with a rising endowment, in a state of the art office building in a major city.
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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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