What role can private philanthropy play in post-conflict and post-authoritarian transitions? Why do these unique moments in history require a different level of creativity, flexibility and willingness to take risk? What are the biggest challenges on the ground and how can these be effectively anticipated and mitigated? These are the questions that will be addressed…
On Oct 7-8, 2014 the Working Group on Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace (PSJP) in collaboration with the Network of European Foundations and the Even’s Foundation (Antwerp) organised a convening entitled “European Values – Promoting Solidarity at a Time of Austerity. What Role can Philanthropy Play?” The convening brought together a small group of…
On November 13, 2014 the Alliance magazine announced the launch of the Third Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize. The prize was established in memory of Olga Alexeeva, founder of Philanthropy Bridge Foundation, by former PFB trustees in honour of her memory and beliefs. The prize is awarded annually. The prize of £5,000 will be awarded to an…
By Jenny Brotchie There is an opportunity for philanthropic organisations to work with governments and the influential OECD to explore fresh ideas to some of the big social justice issues of our times. Jenny Brotchie, Policy Officer at the Carnegie UK Trust argues that it is critical that progressive foundations are at the table. What…
On October 12, 2014, a bunch of donors met in Cairo with the Palestinian Authority to discuss and pledge support for Gaza. I can’t find any official statement press release from the conference, so it’s hard to know exactly who came and pledged, but media coverage after the event suggested that Qatar pledged $1 billion,…
Over twenty years of working in this field of social justice philanthropy in Nepal, I continue to be struck by the resilience of the local communities, their home-grown leaderships, and the way they innovate and improvise to sustain and nurture each other as far as it is possible! During a recent visit to several districts…
Earlier this year, the Working Group on Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace issued a report, Framing the Discourse, Advancing the Work: Philanthropy at the Nexus of Peace and Social Justice and Arts and Culture, that highlighted the synergy between the arts and social movements around the globe — and the general reluctance among funders to fund arts…
US peacebuilding theorist John Paul Lederach talks about achieving “critical yeast” in difficult circumstances, with this arguably being of greater importance than “critical mass.” If the recently circulated report on philanthropy for social justice and peace in Latin America and the Caribbean is to be believed that is exactly what exists: critical yeast. The 32…
On Oct 20, 2014 in Cleveland (USA), at the Fall Conference for Community Foundations, an international research collaboration unveiled the “Community Foundation Atlas,” the most comprehensive directory of the world’s community foundation movement that has ever been published. The online platform, available at http://communityfoundationatlas.org/, maps the identi- ties, locations, assets, roles and achievements of place-based…
It is 3am and my left index finger taps involuntarily on the laminate desk because I’ve been told by someone I respect that I am wrong or just crazy (but oh so politely) to find it very strange that the distinction between what is “humanitarian” and what is “developmental” in terms of aid is so…