Author Archive:
Global Greengrants Fund
What does it mean to be a resilient funder – and why does it matter more than ever?
In January 2017, the Chinese government began requiring all not for profit foreign organizations, including foundations, to register in order to continue to operate in the country. Funders have responded by registering, leaving, or muddling …
Reflections on grassroots grantmaking in China
Yu Yin, the coordinator of Global Greengrants Fund’s small grants program in China, recently joined me in New York City for a series of meetings with donors on the role of grassroots grantmaking in fueling …
Global Greengrants Fund establishes sister organization in Europe
European donors now have an easy way to direct support to frontline communities addressing dire threats to their environment and rights. Since 1993 Global Greengrants Fund has directed more than $45 million in grants to …
EFC Conference 2014: Organized by Friends
In an effort to show I could be a good blogger, I attended two unrelated, but actually interrelated sessions on the first full day of EFC. Full disclosure. They were each organized by friends. What …
Bold ideas for global philanthropy, the Brazilian Way, Broken Windows: Council on Foundations Conference 2013
The Council on Foundations annual conference began its programme in Chicago with a packed pre-conference day of ‘Bold Ideas for Global Philanthropy’. Having attended CoF at least 20 times over the last 30 years, it …
Why environmental funders should support women’s rights
Ask Global Greengrants Fund’s Executive Director Terry Odendahl what women’s rights have to do with the environment, and she’ll say, ‘Everything!’ A passionate advocate for women’s leadership, Terry has been at the helm of Global …
Supporting women, youth and indigenous people to turn global warming around: announcing the Next Generation Climate Board
Trucks shovelling sand from main streets; children wading through the sludge that used to be their living rooms – as I took in the reports from friends and news media on Hurricane Sandy, I realized …
Thoughts on the peace through social justice conference
This is my third consecutive EFC conference and each one is getting better, perhaps because: I know more people who are welcoming; the theme of ‘Peace Through Social Justice’ resonates; the sessions relate to the …
Offence wins games, defence wins championships
If you ever played on a sports team growing up, chances are you remember your coach saying ‘Remember team, offence wins games, but defence wins championships’. The old adage emphasizes the importance of playing a …
African philanthropy: When a small grant is big
In early August, nearly 30 representatives from grantmakers across Africa joined together in Nairobi to discuss how small grants can mobilize social change. One of the resounding messages that was repeated throughout the day is …
