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Letters
Changing systems means changing ourselves
The impressive scale of Co-Impact’s ambition, as set out in Olivia Leland’s Interview (June 2018), prompted me to reflect on the relationship between philanthropic power and Co-Impact’s goal of ‘systems change’. Leland suggests that while …
Pivotal place of peer-learning
The growing breadth and depth of knowledge about global philanthropy in Alliance magazine never ceases to amaze me. But I felt there were some notable omissions in the June edition on philanthropy’s infrastructure. If one …
Calling time on top-down approach
Browsing through the June 2018 issue, I was struck by the interview with Scottish philanthropist, Sir Ian Wood. Notwithstanding that his philanthropy undoubtedly has had some positive impact, I was surprised by Wood’s somewhat anachronistic …
Fitting the image to the spirit
As a philanthropist and philanthropic practitioner from the African American diaspora, I was initially excited to explore your issue on Diaspora philanthropy and excited to know that philanthropy by and for communities from myriad diasporas …
Stylish new designs combine with in-depth coverage
I have to admit that I was sceptical when the Alliance team polled its readers about what we wanted to see in design and format for its new-look magazine. My interest in really reading a large volume of articles was waning, tending to skim for …
Private philanthropy’s unique role in backing media
I was thrilled to see the in-depth examination of philanthropic support for media in the December issue. The purpose and eventual outcomes of direct donations to media sectors can feel enigmatic for many; but never has …
Now is the time to build a movement for philanthropic equity
I congratulate Alliance for bringing even more global attention to the issues around diversity in philanthropy in the September special feature. In this unprecedented political climate where the most basic rights are under threat, philanthropic professionals and institutions in the …
Move beyond diversity – reframe power
We at National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) appreciated Alliance’s September 2017 issue highlighting the fact that communities served are not reflected in grantmaking programme staffs. The systemic inequities that perpetuate barriers to opportunities for communities of colour is not a …
Multiplying value, not dividing it
When I heard that September’s issue of Alliance magazine would spearhead the topic of diversity, to say I was pleased would be an understatement. But it was Bharat Mehta’s article ‘The glass ceiling: cracked but not dismantled’ …
Foundations should not accept compromise
It was encouraging to read Andrew Milner’s article ‘What happens to the rest of it? How foundations make investments’. Whether it be through applying negative screens to listed equity portfolios or by making allocations to social, impact or mission-related investment, …
