Luisa Bonin Visiting Researcher, Maecenata Stiftung Opinions - 15 February 2023 One step that can significantly increase your listening process When foundations publicise that they listen to the ones they support, do they also publicise how the voices heard were addressed? How do those voices influence decision-making?
Alina Porumb Director, INSPIRE Community Foundations Alexandra Stef Community & Learning Director, INSPIRE Community Foundations Opinions - 14 February 2023 The quiet might of infrastructure: How philanthropy support organisations can catalyse transformation Irrespective of where you are sitting in the philanthropy field, it is likely you have experienced a nagging sense of your work being dwarfed by the scale of intersecting environmental, economic and social crises. So the question is: are there alternatives?
Paul Kidner Advisor, TIMA Charitable Foundation Opinions - 14 February 2023 Institutionalising Net-Zero Care The climate crisis is an area that all foundations, irrespective of sector, should attempt to address in one way or another. At first glance, a foundation which focusses on the social welfare of the elderly doesn’t have an obvious entry-point for proactive work addressing climate issues. And yet, a warming climate, and heat in particular, has an outsized effect on poor, marginalised and vulnerable elderly.
João de Almeida Pedro Senior Manager, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Opinions - 14 February 2023 A Bridge (not) too far Taking place from 16-18 January, the BRIDGE Programme Retreat brought together the Chairs and co-Chairs of Philea’s Thematic Networks at Philanthropy House, Brussels. The goal? To engage in a joint programme aiming to increase mutual understanding among foundations, developing a common framework to foster cross-collaborations as well as a pathway to keep conversations going in future.
Ben Evans Director and Senior Associate, Greenacre Associates Opinions - 7 February 2023 Anti-money laundering: A risk-based approach to regulating non-profit organisations NPOs are becoming used to dealing with terrorist financing regulations, but are they ready for a wave of new anti-money laundering regulations that may follow? Ben Evans examines the drivers behind these laws, and the dilemma for civil society on how to respond.
Francisca Mutapi Co-Director, Global Health Academy Opinions - 6 February 2023 Call to action: Challenging foundations to keep African women and girls in science Africa produces the largest proportion of female STEM graduates compared to other continents, and yet very few of them enter or remain in a STEM career. An evidence-based solution for foundations to adopt an effective funding culture for retaining these women and girls in STEM-related careers might just be the answer.
Kyrill Hartog Co-founder and Editor, Are We Europe Teresa O'Connell Editor, Are We Europe Opinions - 12 January 2023 Systems change and the future of philanthropy How can foundations and philanthropic organisations apply a systems change lens to their work, and what is the unique role of philanthropy in bringing about systemic change? Kyrill Hartog and…
Caroline Paulick-Thiel Director, Politics for Tomorrow Opinions - 12 January 2023 Leveraging the work of infrastructure organisations towards regenerative futures The next few years are a crucial moment in human history for mitigating the polycrisis. This scientifically backed timeframe has to be understood as a turning point for WHERE philanthropy is heading and HOW to coordinate the work of infrastructure organisations towards regenerative futures. 10x100 is an organising mode for agile transformation, which aims to combine short-term crisis responses with long-term systemic change.
Victoria Dunning Senior Program Officer, BUILD Opinions - 12 January 2023 Learning from BUILD – Why it matters and how, right now Mission-driven organisations in pursuit of social change need to be strategic, strong, persistent, agile and adaptable. But traditional funding frameworks can constrain them. The Ford Foundation’s BUILD grants provide five-year, unrestricted funding and dedicated support for institutional strengthening in order to build strong and resilient organisations that can achieve their intended impact.
Hana ElSafoury Programs & Community Building Officer, EDGE Funders Alliance Jana Stardelova Grants and Engagement Manager, Ariadne Opinions - 11 January 2023 Funding real change is funding fully & flexibly to fight the starvation cycle Despite civil society organisations being at the forefront of fighting the complex problems of our world, most of them suffer from financial instability. This is in part due to restricted funding. In 2022, Ariadne and EDGE Funders created the Funding For Real Change website to support funders in understanding the non-profit starvation cycle and offer a spectrum of tools for breaking it: from full indirect cost coverage to multi-year flexible funding.
Oriana Persico Artist and co-funder, HER: She Loves Data Opinions - 11 January 2023 Art as an engine of technological and social innovation The relationship between art and technology has always been the result of our co-evolution with the environment. In the context of rapid technological change, it is at the nexus of art, science and society that people and organisations can respond to the uncertainty of our times in unexpected and innovative ways.
Stefan Einarsson Board member, Association of Swedish Foundations Opinions - 10 January 2023 Leading from behind: the challenge of herding cats National philanthropy associations represent one of the most fiercely independent organisations there is: the philanthropic foundation. This text discusses some of the strategies on how to balance the two roles of creating opportunities for networking and peer learning while functioning as the voice of the philanthropic sector.