Kardon, executive director of the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits in San Jose.

FORBES: They Want Your Founder's Stock

Frederic Fransen is executive director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education in Indianapolis, which assists donors with their higher education philanthropy.

FORBES: Give To Your Alma Mater, But Do So With Open Eyes

Dave Adamson, chief executive of the Centre for Regeneration Excellence Wales which was part of the team which helped set up in Communities First in 2001, said the programme was only one part of the strategy to tackle poverty.

BBC: Communities First anti-poverty scheme shake-up concerns