There is a natural tension between art and science: Science is associated with certainty and effectiveness, and art with softness and disruption. In philanthropy we aspire to certainty (or as much of it we can get) and yet as counter-intuitive as it may seem, especially in the context of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, I would make the case that the art side of philanthropy, if not more important than the science side, is at least a pre-condition to achieving effectiveness and impact.

http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/why_the_art_of_philanthropy_trumps_the_science#When:17:20:00Z