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Funding practice


What will it take to shift power in philanthropy?

Fozia Irfan 5 July 2022

To mark their 20th birthday, NPC has been talking to leading figures and people doing things differently to ask: Where next for social impact? In this essay, originally published by NPC, Fozia Irfan asks: What …

To reimagine philanthropy, go back to its roots: the love of humanity

Sarah Henry 1 July 2022

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

Bhekinkosi Moyo 13 June 2022

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?

Participatory Grantmakers Community 6 June 2022

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.

3 Dr Christine Sow and Tim Boyes-Watson 3 June 2022

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

3 Conniel Malek 10 May 2022

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

7 Greg Hilditch 28 April 2022

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

Devon Kearney 13 April 2022

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?

4 Charles Keidan 6 April 2022

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?

2 Rachel Stephenson Sheff 18 March 2022

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’ …