Foundations are building on their strengths to improve the ways they are tackling the multiple crises facing the world today. ACF publishes research on foundations and provides tools for foundations to use to improve their practice. Read More
Climate solutions often leave out or directly harm the most vulnerable communities. While “intersectionality” and “climate” are almost buzzwords nowadays, the two fail to come together in a meaningful way in Europe. We have a very active climate field in Europe. However, it is not one that structurally works towards climate justice. Funders must take a structural, intersectional approach to the climate crisis that empowers communities. Read More
The two key fault lines in the world today are inequality and culture: inequality with regard to who has economic, political, military and cultural power; and culture meaning the different value systems, world views, beliefs and ways in which individuals and communities make meaning and identity for themselves and in… Read More
Most philanthropic organisations aim for North Stars (creating more just societies, and climate positive economies), yet continue funding and measuring progress in ways that are not commensurate with the ambitions of the work. Expanding the toolbox to encompass flexible funding, and plural learning practices, is urgently needed to turbocharge new social change strategies and ways of working. Read More
Pandemic, war, inflation and social unrest have darkened the mood in Europe. The climate crisis and global migration are putting great pressures on European societies. To be purposefully philanthropic, to be boldly engaged, as this conference reminded us, we need courage and an openness to listening and learning from each other. Read More
In a rapidly changing world where arts and culture face unprecedented challenges, collaboration has become imperative for foundations seeking to create a meaningful and sustainable contribution to cultural development and society. By working collectively, foundations could leverage their unique strengths, share insights, and pool resources to tackle complex issues that no single philanthropic institution can address alone. Read More
Although the arts can’t fix high energy prices or missiles raining down on innocent civilians, they are very much part of these struggles and transitions – helping people to make sense, to respond and to campaign. Read More
Philanthropy rests at the intersection of civil society; economic and political structures; and the challenges of our time. The Philanthropic Leadership Platform: China-Europe has been bringing together practitioners from China and Europe since 2016. Why do we need this kind of exchange even more after the pandemic and considering the challenges in EU-China relations? Read More
The philanthropic sector, supported by philanthropy support organisations, is poised to shift its role and actively enable a socially just, inclusive net-zero transition. The speed and scale of this transformational change depends in part on how PSOs deploy a broadly supported Philanthropy Innovation Ecosystem (PIE) strategy. Read More
The Funders Collaborative Hub, hosted by ACF, launched in its current form in 2021. Jim Cooke considers how the Hub is playing a catalytic infrastructure role for UK funders, by making the ecosystem more visible, multiplying the possibilities for connection and identifying and championing excellent practice. Read More
