Effective philanthropy for social justice and peace (PSJP) aims to address injustices in a society that result in social, economic, and/or political inequalities. Rather than focus on the effects of unjust treatment, good social justice grant making attempts to undo the mechanisms of oppression and conflict.
Why do we need a network for philanthropy for social justice and peace?
Philanthropy can play a pivotal role in social justice and peace. In the main, the impact of philanthropy has been constrained, hence we continue to face the same problems. Adopting a social justice and peace lens, however, has been instrumental in enabling a focus on root causes and mechanisms that perpetuate injustice.
In order to promote and improve the practice of philanthropy for social justice and peace (PSJP) we need information, knowledge and tools. Who do we turn to for this? Where are our peers? Who do we learn from? Where do we share our lessons? How do we get others to understand that our practice is good practice? How do we mobilise more resources for social justice and peace? How do we move this field globally? What special concerns are related to work on peace-building?
To answer these questions we need a global supportive community of PSJP practitioners that allows for individuals and foundations to connect and even occasionally work together. A community that is fluid, flexible, inclusive and informed by the local and changing contexts of different regions.
How are we building this network?
- Organic regional groupings: Facilitating regional/continental groupings of PSJP practitioners (foundations and individuals) to develop the agenda for their regions advancing the practice of PSJP.
- Deepening the PSJP lens to existing networks and communities: Bringing a social justice and peace building lens to existing regional and thematic philanthropy networks/ associations/ groupings/ communities to deepen reflection on and broaden the practice of PSJP.
- Connecting hubs: Mapping overlaps and facilitating connections across existing networks and regional groupings for reflection, learning and sharing at a global level.
- Virtual communities – Further developing a web-based presence to share what different communities/ networks (regional and thematic) are working on; share tools, knowledge, and experiences.
- Building a PSJP resource base – Aggregating all of the resources that social justice funders and those working on peace are using across the world in order to deepen reflection on the practice and strengthen the practice globally.
Come join the community.