Editorial - Grantmaking at a distance

Three years ago I had lunch with a foundation executive who was interested in supporting an emerging philanthropic institution in Africa. Our discussion was going well until he asked ‘So you will be a regranting organization then?’ I stared at him. I had no idea what the question meant, never mind the answer. I quickly ran the word through a mental dictionary and with a sinking feeling I nodded yes.

This issue of Alliance offers diverse perspectives on the subject of grantmaking from a distance. Now that I know what the word regranting means, I think it is important that its use should be properly contextualized.

A number of funders who have ventured into international grantmaking, and those who are considering it for the first time, argue that the costs of using regranting organizations are too high. The real costs lie in the illusion that there is a ‘pure’ form of philanthropic giving which moves money directly from Point A to Point B, versus a murkier version which involves dealing with a miscellaneous group of regranters, intermediaries, middlemen/women and so on.

Grantmaking from a distance requires a willingness to take risks, flexibility, and a commitment to nurturing new relationships. Funders need to ask themselves what their own grantmaking objectives are. As the articles in this issue of Alliance show, there are several options to choose from, each with their merits and demerits. If grantmaking initiatives are to be sustainable, access to funding and control over resources has to move closer to marginalized communities. Many regranting organizations have played a critical role in this regard – though some regranting strategies have been fraught with difficulties. When regranting organizations have themselves emerged from local communities, they add a unique value to the practice of philanthropy in a changing world.

This issue presents a rare opportunity to share perspectives on this subject. Hopefully, it will give us insights into how we can forge meaningful partnerships to enhance diverse philanthropic goals.

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi
Executive Director, African Women's Development Fund