Posner Center for International Development’s Post

Read more below on how Gen Z is not just participating in philanthropy; they're revolutionizing it! This generation is poised to inherit and transform the philanthropic landscape, preferring meaningful connections and impactful solutions. As Lisa Greer and others note, it's not just about the money—it's about making a difference in unique and creative ways. Let's celebrate and support Gen Z's vision for a more inclusive, action-driven philanthropy. The future is bright, and together, we can make a difference. https://lnkd.in/guhtkry4

🌟 Reflecting on an incredible experience at the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) conference in LA! These four themes continue to show up and (re)shape my perspective on philanthropy, grantmaking, data and evaluation, and equity: 1. Intersectional Racial Equity: Throughout the conference, speakers discussed and emphasized racial equity as necessary to achieve philanthropic goals and transform the sector. Favorite quote: “I am here because of my ancestors and their work. I am my ancestors wildest dreams.” 2. Equitable Evaluation Framework (EEF): Three foundations shared their approach to incorporating EEF into their evaluative practices, emphasizing practical tips to align grantmaking and evaluation strategies with values and principles centered on racial justice and equity. Favorite quote: “[We need to be] patient and give up control and power. This is difficult. We want control, but if we’re allowing the community to take ownership and be self-determining agents, then we need to let go.” 3. Co-creating the Future: Philanthropic organizations were encouraged to engage grantee partners and communities in envisioning their ideal futures. We all have a role in shaping the future with our decisions today, particularly philanthropy, which exists to change the trajectory of the future. Favorite quote: “Our field exists to change the trajectory of the future…The future doesn’t happen to you. You create it with the decisions you make today.” 4. Grantee-Funder Relationships Need Reimagining: “Interview with an Organizer” was my favorite session because we had the opportunity to hear directly the issues and challenges grantees face when engaging philanthropic organizations. The quotes below say it all. Favorite quotes: “Many of us are organizing through trauma.” “Save me time from doing the ‘dancing’ and ‘schmoozing’ to funders. Help get the money to the people that do the work.” “[Philanthropy] must be risk-averse. It’s time to play hardball.” “[Philanthropy] must fund people you don’t agree with. This is why we are limited.” A huge thank you to all speakers and organizers for such insightful sessions! In addition to these valuable insights, I had the opportunity to connect and spend quality time with my colleagues from PEAK. It was a fantastic opportunity to catch up in person, deepen our relationships, have delicious food, and discuss how we can apply our collective learnings to our work. #GEO2024 #Philanthropy #Evaluation

This Fall, Murdock Trust CEO Romanita H. sat down with the Portland Business Journal and fellow foundation leaders to discuss changes and trends in the philanthropic space. Read about a growing spirit of collaboration, the importance of mutual accountability, the role of technology and AI in #grantmaking, and more in this article on the exciting future of #philanthropy. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3YlSwul

The Day I Choose to Start My Crazy Community Foundation Dance. Two days spent at the Community Foundation Learning Event transformed the way I think about community foundations. These days were not just a learning experience but a clarion call to action—a call to start, no matter how small, and to dream big for my community. The journey to build a community foundation may seem daunting, but the quote that resonated most with me during the event was: “We can revolutionize the concept and practice of community foundations in the region simply by starting.” This powerful reminder set the tone for my reflections and strengthened my resolve to take the first step toward this transformative work. A key framework shared during the event emphasized the importance of starting small, engaging meaningfully, investing sustainably, and communicating effectively. It’s a simple yet profound approach that encourages action while keeping a focus on long-term goals. Start Small, Think Big: Launching with seed contributions and scaling gradually ensures sustainability. One of the standout discussions was the interplay between leadership and governance. Leadership drives momentum and inspires vision, but governance builds trust and ensures accountability. Starting with strong leadership while laying the groundwork for governance is essential for the credibility and sustainability of a foundation. Community foundations thrive on their ability to convene, mobilize, and give back to their communities. A unique insight I gained was the challenge of uncoordinated giving and the need for deliberate strategies to align resources with community needs. Conversations on endowments illuminated their critical role in ensuring long-term sustainability. Pooled endowment funds, where smaller organizations collaborate to mobilize resources, were particularly intriguing. For me, building an endowment from the very beginning feels non-negotiable—it’s the backbone of resilience and sustainability for any community foundation. One area I hope to explore further is the integration of feminist principles in community foundations. While the event was immensely valuable, many discussions felt masculine in framing. A feminist community foundation could prioritize inclusivity, equity, and shared leadership, transforming traditional power dynamics in philanthropic spaces. I am deeply grateful to CivSource Africa Malcolm Mpamizo Madonna Vicky Ainembabazi East Africa Philanthropy Network-EAPN Dawit Taddele Dessie If you’re interested in community-driven philanthropy, feminist foundations, or sustainable giving models, I’d love to connect. Together, we can start small, think big, and revolutionize the concept of community foundations in our region. #Philanthropy #CommunityFoundations #Leadership #Sustainability #FeministPhilanthropy  

Philanthropy is essential in creating innovation hubs that not only drive economic growth but also serve as a catalyst in their early stages, helping these hubs establish sustainable revenue models and long-term growth strategies. This catalytic funding is particularly important in the formative years, enabling innovation hubs to scale while fostering social responsibility and sustainability. Check out our slides to fully understand the critical role that philanthropy plays in innovation districts and how it drives overall social and economic benefits for our community. At Keystone Innovation District, we already have programming that highly aligns with economic success and social impact, demonstrating a strong fit for these types of philanthropic investments. This alignment showcases how philanthropy can create a lasting impact by bridging early-stage funding gaps while driving both economic development and meaningful social change. This is why we have launched our donation campaign at Keystone—to not only sustain our current initiatives but also to expand our programs, attract more innovators, and create spaces where impactful solutions for the future can thrive. If you are a private donor, click the link below to contribute. If you're an institutional donor, reach out to us at admin@keystonedistrict.org to learn more about how you can partner with us to drive lasting impact. https://lnkd.in/gPmeg4tf #innovation #kansascity #economicdevelopment #socialimpact #philanthropy

In 2022, we set out with a big ambition: to fix the broken philanthropic funding system. We created the #FixTheFlow Fellowship, a global movement, peer community and programme for fundraisers and funders that includes training, coaching, and systems-change projects. It’s a programme of education, transformation and personal growth and development. We’ve learned so much from working with each other, and across #fundraisers and #grantmakers, many key needs are the same: 1. We all know things aren’t working - it’s easy for funders and fundraisers to agree on the parts of the funding system that aren’t right.  2. We all want the same things - the visions of fundraisers and funders for how things should work are identical, we have so much more in common than we know.   3. We have more power than we realise - everyone feels stuck with the things that aren’t working, but together we’ve had a collective voice and supportive community that has enabled so many Fellows to create, demand or make a case for change. 4. We need time to imagine - it can feel impossible to dream up a better future when we’re so stuck in the current system, so we need Imagination Infrastructure to help us make it a reality.  5. We need permission to ask for what we want - the problems of the funding system are sometimes self-fulfilling prophecies because we don’t question them or ask for anything different, but our Fellows have had so many ‘easy wins’ by simply feeling able to ask for what they want.    Since #FixTheFlow launched, we have supported three cohorts of fellows through a Collective Design process to articulate a collective vision for the future of philanthropy. It’s inspiring, galvanising stuff. Read more here:

It's a momentous week in the US and around the world. Even though people feel divided, they are looking for solutions. Philanthropy has the power to heal. To make the biggest possible difference with their philanthropy, more and more people are turning to their advisors for guidance. We need to be ready. I'll talk about these themes and the other grand trend in philanthropy — the wealth transfer — next week at the AiP (International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy) conference in San Jose, CA. It's not too late to register. I hope you'll join us for this important community conversation.   Richard Peck is moderating our panel, which features Jennifer Lehman and Craig Buchanan. We will discuss the ways that advisors can tool up and be ready to offer clients robust support. Capital is flowing to women and rising generation inheritors. This demographic shift correspondents to a shift in the kind of support that wealth holders want from their advisors. Inheritors are often more focused on philanthropy and aligning their investments with their values. To rise to the moment, advisors need to build their philanthropic skills and leverage technology and partnerships to provide a seamless, user-friendly experience to their clients. Join us next week in San Jose to hear more (registration link in comments).

💡 Transforming Philanthropy Through Systems Change At the Collective Change Lab, we believe philanthropy has the power to do more than fund solutions—it can transform systems. 🌟 We’re honored to share our vision and practical tools for healing-centered systems change in this new article by Philanthropy New York co-authored by Lian Zeitz, MDiv, Tad Khosa and John Kania - It highlights our commitment to helping funders move from transactional practices to transformational ones—rooted in deep listening, shared power, and courageous action. As we approach 2025, we’re excited to be launching a Philanthropic Toolkit designed to inspire and support funders ready to embrace systems-level impact through these transforming practices. Together, we can foster the collective healing and resilience necessary for lasting change. 📌 Read the article to learn more about this journey and how philanthropy can evolve to meet the moment. 🔗 Explore the article here: https://lnkd.in/eDit4gEA #Philanthropy #SystemsChange #CollectiveHealing #TransformationalLeadership #CourageToTransform

We're delighted to work with the team at Culture & Business Scotland - the C&BS Forum next month will focus on the questions of ‘why’ and ‘how’ to scope out your future funding landscape, from inspiration on the importance of self-evaluation and insight on how to engage donors in your cause, to a deeper understanding of why philanthropists invest in culture. -- Why is it important to measure your organisation’s impact and how can you even make it enjoyable? Why can psychology play a part in engaging donors and how can you use decision science to secure major gifts?   Why do businesses, foundations and people invest philanthropically and how can you better understand their decision-making? Martha Lester-Cribb will give us an inspirational insight into impact measurement, talking about the value of evaluation and the different reasons to evaluate. She'll explain how ESS can help if you want to get better at it and provide an overview of their free resources, training and tailored support. And, she'll reveal to you the unlikely fact that evaluation can be enjoyable and even fun! So, you finally got in the room with a donor who can make a significant difference with a major gift. What can psychology and neurology teach you about how to engage them, to get them committed, and maybe even to double the level of gift they’re going to make? In this eye-opening session, Bernard Ross will introduce you to 20 key tools based on decision science which will transform your ability to secure major gifts. After interval refreshments, James Naughtie, Special Correspondent for BBC News, will moderate a panel discussion with people from across the world of philanthropy: Nancy Bikson, Mark McKeown, Anne McFarlane, Nick Addington, Samantha Pattman and Sir Ewan Brown. The conversation will range from topics like donor-advised funds and how decision-making could change in light of ongoing funding challenges, to the idea of a national philanthropy strategy. Come along to explore the reality the future holds from a private funding perspective and take this pre-festive opportunity to remind yourself exactly why you do what you do, and how you (and your donors, funders and sponsors) truly make a difference to your beneficiaries. Join the conversation by sending your questions or suggested topic areas in advance here. We will do our best to ensure all questions and topics are addressed during the Forum. Who is it for?  Our C&BS Forums are open to all members and non-members. If you’re looking to learn new things, challenge your thinking, and network with fellow professionals, this is the event for you. This Forum is especially relevant for fundraisers and CEOs, Finance Directors and Board Members in support of their fundraisers. Wednesday 4 December 2024 3pm-7pm National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Book now – https://lnkd.in/etGafpkx

“But why would philanthropists work together? According to experts, the foremost reason is learning. ‘It is quite lonely being a foundation professional. Being in a funder collaborative gives you colleagues,’ says Beth Breeze, director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent. If you share the burden of grant-making and work together, you can share learnings, new ideas, and the joys of giving.” Read more on how funder collaboratives can address systemic challenges and achieve greater scale than individual foundations might alone. #philanthropy #FunderCollaboratives #CollectiveGiving https://lnkd.in/ekssrTm3