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Letters
The real impact of impact investing
The basic structure of the neo-liberal capitalist system is the problematic structure, and not impact investing. In Germany, the basic system is capitalist but it acknowledges a need for social policy and the welfare state. …
One credible weapon among the continuum
In their interview, the Hewlett Foundation’s Larry Kramer and Ana Marshall raise critical issues for all impact investors. The lack of ‘performance presentation standards’ to accurately capture and make comparable the financial and social returns …

Philanthropy confidential – December 2020
All your confidential philanthropic queries answered Philanthropy confidential is your space to safely and anonymously get advice on ethical dilemmas in the sector. Tell Regi, our secret philanthropy correspondent with impeccable standing in the global …
Philanthropy confidential – September 2020
All your confidential philanthropic queries answered Philanthropy confidential is your space to safely and anonymously get advice on ethical dilemmas in the sector. Tell Regi, our secret philanthropy correspondent with impeccable standing in the global …
A matter of mutuality, solidarity and trust
Congratulations to the Alliance team, and its outstanding guest editors Halima Mahomed, Graciela Hopstein and Romy Krämer for your coverage of the interplay of progressive social movements and philanthropy in the last issue (June 2020). …
It’s time to be bold beyond the rhetoric
If philanthropy is serious about supporting social movements, it needs to be ready to take risks and have skin in the game. Risks, because the call and response nature of movements requires an emergent and …
Funders have to adapt to movements, not the other way round
I keep wondering why especially larger funders are bent on creating movements, but are then baffled when movements actually emerge, often even without – or despite – larger funder engagement. Maybe many larger funders simply …
Dispatches: Philanthropy responds to the COVID-19 pandemic
It has been an extraordinary and terrifying start to the new decade as countries around the world face up to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following are edited excerpts of a conversation between a global group …
The way for women’s funds to move forward
Jessica Horn’s article (Beyond the binary, Alliance, December 2019) on shifting the understanding of how women’s funds engage with the concept of gender, and issues beyond the binary, is an important look into the future …
Feminism goes beyond sisterhood
Feminist movements have always been about breaking harmful gender norms. Sex discrimination cases around the world have been fought and won over the right to express gender in any way a person chooses – such …