Susan Maposa

Taking philanthropy to where communities are

The priority of ‘community’ in community philanthropy is seldom realized. A social action research programme in southern Africa, the Community Grantmaking and Social Investment Programme (CGSI),[1] explored ways in which this might be addressed. Based on this research, we argue that vertical philanthropy (aided change) and horizontal philanthropy (self-help and mutual assistance) should blend, and that the onus rests with grantmakers to adapt and accommodate how they work, integrating what poor communities know and do about getting resources to where they are needed.