Social Movements and Philanthropy in Brazil

This study, published by the Comuá Network, explores the role of Brazilian philanthropy in funding and supporting social movements and the self-financing strategies of these movements Social movements play a fundamental role in defending and promoting rights, contributing significantly to the construction and consolidation of democracy. Historically, these movements have been essential in resisting authoritarian…

Interview with Graciela Hopstein

In this interview Graciela Hopstein of the Brazilian Philanthropy Network for Social Justice speaks with GIFE – Group of Institutes, Foundations and Enterprises, Brazil about the role and centrality of social movements in bringing about systemic transformations to create the world we seek. She reflects on the challenges social movements and the civic space face…

Beyond us and them

Social movements are increasingly important to the process of change, but their relationship with institutional philanthropy has often proven a difficult one. What are these difficulties and how can they be resolved? Drawing on a recent paper by Halima Mahomed, Institutional philanthropy and popular organising in Africa : some initial reflections from social movement activists,…

Beyond Us and Them

This blog post is prompted by the provocative article entitled Institutional Philanthropy and Popular Organising in Africa: Some Initial Reflections from Social Movement Activists by Halima Mohamed which draws on the experiences of activists from 13 different movements across Africa. I am part of one of those movements. Social movements are proof of ordinary people’s…

Institutional philanthropy and popular organising in Africa : some initial reflections from social movement activists

As popular forms of organising increasingly serve as sites for change in Africa, institutionalised private philanthropy, which has generally stayed away from such activist spaces is slowly engaging. While anecdotal knowledge exists, evidence-based analysis on these relationships is scarce. This study explored how African movements experience and see the role and nature of philanthropy in…

Funding African movements? Philanthropic revolutions needed first.

‘New configurations of civic-led movements are playing an instrumental role in challenging political, social and economic abuses of power, at great personal risk. At the same time the organized and professionalised civil society spaces which are typically supported by philanthropy are losing momentum, relevance and connectivity to those whose interests they are meant to be…