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Funding practice

To reimagine philanthropy, go back to its roots: the love of humanity
Philanthropy’s practices have moved it so far away from its definition of loving humanity. Intersectional feminism offers a roadmap for the way back. Stop dividing people into groups based on unrealistic and artificial singular boxes. …

Corporate social partnerships can tackle societal challenges: Lessons from the Aspire Higher Project
Sponsored content from our partner, The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) Introducing Aspire Higher A lot is expected from the private sector today, especially in Africa where high levels of inequality, poverty, …

Interest in participatory grantmaking leads to… where?
Is your interest peaked in Participatory Grantmaking after attending Philea’s Forum? Here is a Dos and Don’ts roadmap for taking your next steps. There was significant interest in Participatory Grantmaking at Philea’s Forum. But where …
The NGO starvation cycle is global. Here are three recommendations for funders.
The myth that low overhead rates or administration costs are a useful indicator of nonprofit efficiency has proved remarkably persistent, despite studies showing that overheads vary significantly by type and size of the organization. This …
What practicing corporate law taught me about philanthropy
I walked away from the corporate world after a decade of practicing law at a multinational business, and I never looked back. I dove into the philanthropic space with curiosity, passion, and a thirst to …
A historical case for trust-based philanthropy
Like any other field of human activity, philanthropy has gone through different fashions over the years. Whether it’s impact philanthropy or participatory grantmaking – every new idea about how the wealthy should give has come …
Letter to the editor: Trust-based philanthropy is not a myth, it’s a solution
Like Simon Sommer says of himself, I may not know what trust-based philanthropy is. But I have a good idea of where he goes wrong. Let’s set aside the broad generalizations (‘unrestricted funding seems to …
Is the trust-based philanthropy bubble about to burst?
If trust-based philanthropy is the new orthodoxy sweeping the philanthropic world, then MacKenzie Scott is its undisputed champion. Scott has turned the institutional philanthropy model on its head donating over $12 billion to nonprofits over …
So you want to do a participatory strategy?
Love the intention – but let’s make sure you get it right. These days, the word ‘participation’ – or rather, its sophisticated cousin ‘participatory‘ – is tossed around the social impact space like the word ‘organic’ …
Mapping a sector’s global re-imagination: Pathways for change in philanthropy
Every choice we make in philanthropy is an opportunity to move toward trust, equity, and justice. There are many pathways for change and when I became a grantmaker at Global Fund for Children in 2018, …