Charity Aimed at Change

July 27, 2009, The Wall Street Journal — It is often noted that, after billions of dollars in ­government spending over the past several ­decades, we have seen precious little progress in solving American’s major social problems, from family breakdown to dysfunctional schools. But what about America’s nonprofit sector—organizations that ­concentrate their efforts on exactly such problems, with money from charities, trusts and personal ­philanthropies? They too spend enormous sums. Is their record any better?