Recent reports
Philanthropy in India
Author: Caroline Hartnell
Published by Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace in association with Alliance, WINGS and the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy, Ashoka University.
October 2017
Philanthropy in Russia
Author: Caroline Hartnell
Published by Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace in association with CAF Russia, WINGS and Alliance.
January 2018
Philanthropy in the Arab Region
Author: Caroline Hartnell
Published by Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace in association with Alliance, Arab Foundations Forum, John D Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, King Khalid Foundation, Philanthropy Age, SAANED and WINGS
March 2018
Philanthropy in Brazil
Authors: Caroline Hartnell and Andrew Milner
Published by Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace in association with Alliance, WINGS and Philanthropy Network for Social Justice.
May 2018
Individual giving in India, Russia, the Arab region and Brazil
Author: Caroline Hartnell
Published by PSJP in association with Alliance, CAF Russia, Philanthropy Network for Social Justice (Rede de Filantropia Para a Justica Social), Institute for the Development of Social Investment (IDIS), SAANED and WINGS
July 2019
Philanthropy in Indonesia
Author: Caroline Hartnell
Published by Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace in association with Alliance, Filantropi Indonesia, Indonesia for Humanity and WINGS.
February 2020
About the study
‘The Role of Philanthropy in Society’ is an ongoing open-ended study initiated in 2016 by Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace. The aim of the study is to gain an understanding of the role that philanthropy is playing in society in various countries across the world. What’s happening now and what potential role could it play in the future?
What is particularly lacking is any clear picture of the scale and role of philanthropy in countries where philanthropy is culturally rooted but not well documented (at least in English) and often less institutionalized, mainly in emerging market countries. This is where our study can start to fill a gap.
In the last year and a half, we have published four papers as part of this study focusing on India, Russia, the Arab region and Brazil. These papers have taken a broad view of philanthropy, encompassing everything from individual giving (by the very wealthy and by people of more modest means, including crowdfunding) to giving by private and corporate foundations, CSR, community philanthropy, social justice philanthropy, self-funded movements and impact investing. Another study on Indonesia in underway.
As a result of this work we hope to be able to understand the current landscape of philanthropy (trends, strengths and weaknesses, what inhibits or supports it, what makes it more or less effective in terms of furthering progressive social change causes …) in a range of countries and draw out strategies that work if philanthropy is to be an effective agent of social transformation in today’s world.
We are now taking this to the next level, looking at some of these areas in more depth and building on these studies in a thematic way. Currently, we are interrogating two cross-cutting threads we have found in the four published papers – individual giving and corporate philanthropy.
Methodology
The study is using a ‘create and adjust’, open-ended methodology to allow for surprises and the fact that we don’t know everything.
There are a number of steps being followed to ensure that the study is building on existing research and knowledge in the field, and that it is inclusive and representative of the diversity in the field:
- Approaching philanthropy umbrella bodies and support organisations, research and academic institutions, regional associations and national associations to ask what they see happening with philanthropy in country X
- Looking at existing studies that might be relevant
- Carrying out iterative in-depth consultations with philanthropy practitioners from across the philanthropy spectrum in different countries. We will be looking at a broad range of philanthropic activities, from individual giving (by the very wealthy and by people of more modest means, including crowdfunding) to giving by private and corporate foundations, CSR, community philanthropy, social justice philanthropy, self-funded movements and impact investing
- Where relevant, consulting selected people from outside philanthropy eg in development agencies and civil society organizations, to find out how they see the role of philanthropy in country X
Findings
We will be sharing the findings of the study as we go on through blogs and sessions at sector events to invite input from the field and ensure that the study evolves in a way that is relevant to the needs of the field. The development of an understanding about = philanthropy in emerging markets, its role and potential, will be an iterative process. The study will always remain open to further input. Findings will, therefore, be shared as working papers, and they are open to further input via responses and comments which will be shared as blog posts on the PSJP and Alliance blogs.
How can you participate?
To continue this discussion, we invite people to contribute their thoughts and responses to the working papers from any angle that interests you. To contribute a blog write to us at info@psjp.org
