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On the fourteenth edition of our podcast partnership with the European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP), we talk to more academics whose work is featured in the latest batch of short, practitioner-focused ERNOP Research Notes.
In this episode we hear from:
Marlene Walk (University of Freiburg), about her research on how we should understand the role of nonprofit consultants.Tine de Bock & Tine Faseur (KU Leuven), about research on the potential downsides of "charity checkouts" (aka point of sale donations)Silke Boenigk (University of Hamburg) & Laura Hesse (Bauhaus University Weimar), about their research into why non-donors don't give and how we can usefully segment them.Further Resources
ERNOP's Research NotesMarlene's paper, "Not all wine and roses: Nonprofit consulting as nonprofit-
sector-adjacent work" (with Amanda Stewart and Kerry Kuenzi), and the accompanying ERNOP research note by Michele Fugiel Gartner.Tine & Tine's paper, "Charity Checkouts: (Potential) Downsides for Customers,
Nonprofits and Businesses Involved", and the accompanying ERNOP research note by MĂ„rten Palmefors.Silke & Laura's paper "Unpacking the Non-Donor Segment: Reasons for Non-Support and Five Attitudinal Clusters Based on Data From the German Donation Monitor" and the accompanying ERNOP research note by Eva Sebbane.If you would like to contribute to making academic work accessible and more relevant for people working in, with or for philanthropy, then why not consider becoming an ERNOP practitioner expert and help translate academic work on philanthropy into research notes in close collaboration with the authors of the original work.
https://ernop.eu/information-for-practitioner-experts/
Or, if you or your organisation might be interested in supporting ERNOPâs wider mission to advance philanthropy research and make it accessible to those working in, with, and for philanthropy, then why not consider joining as a member:
https://ernop.eu/member-portal/subscription-plan/ -
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On this episode we talk to Jen Ford Reedy, President of the Bush Foundation, about her new book "Please Be Good At Philanthropy" and why it is important for grantmakers to turn good intentions into clear strategy. Including:
Who is the title of the book aimed at? I.e. Who needs to be âgood at philanthropyâ?What does it mean to be good at philanthropy?Are our current narratives about what counts as success and failure in philanthropy creating barriers?Why is it so important not to lose sight of generosity a a guiding principle when working in institutional philanthropy?What kinds of biases or mindsets do people bring to philanthropy when they come from other sectors?What does a funder need to figure out in order to connect what they are trying to achieve with what they should be doing?Do funders too often fall into the trap of narrowing their focus too much or too quickly? Why is this a problem?Why is giving up control so fundamental for philanthropy?Do foundations have to accept the need to make choices? And that those choices necessarily mean picking certain organizations and cause areas over others?Why is âmain character syndromeâ a big risk for philanthropy?Is there too much emphasis on âworking in gapsâ, when it would actually be better for funders to work in the same areas to some extent? What is the difference between a âgood failureâ and a âbad failureâ in philanthropy, and how foundations ensure that they have more of the former than the latter?Are there just âdifferent ways of doing philanthropyâ that are equally valid, or are some âbetterâ or âworseâ than others? What value can a historical perspective bring for philanthropists, funders and non-profit professionals?Further Resources:
Please Be Good At Philanthropy launch page.Bush Foundation websiteJen on LinkedInInside Philanthropy interview with Jen. ($)"A Foundation President on How Not to Be a Lousy Funder", Chronicle of Philanthropy ($)Philanthropisms episodes with Emily Teitsworth, Philippa Charles, Sonal Sachdev Patel, and a deep dive on the history of foundations.WPM long reads on trust-based philanthropy and the history of foundations -
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In this episode we hear from Isaac Jones, Director of the UK charity First Give, about their work in schools helping children and young people to become 'philanthropic citizens'. Including:
What does First Give do, and how did the organisation come about?What does the program look like for a participant?Is the primary aim to get schoolkids to be more philanthropic, to teach them skills of civic participation/engagement, or to teach personal skills (e.g. presentation, confidence etc)? What is the balance of emphasis between these things?Where does the work that FG does fit within schools? E.g. Is it part of the curriculum, or extra-curricular?What impact does taking part in the program have on schools as institutions?Is the program the same across all schools, or is there room for it to be tailored to the specific needs of a particular school or the local context?Are there constraints on what participants can give to? (i.e. in terms of particular geographies, cause areas or types of organisations?)What role does personal experience tend to play in the choice of causes and charities that participants support?What is the response from recipient charities like? Do they view these donations differently or value them more because of how they have come about?Is âphilanthropyâ a helpful term when engaging young people, or does it cause confusion or bring connotations that might frame things in unhelpful ways?Do students who take part in FG demonstrate any increased engagement with their local area, or greater propensity to engage in associational life?How does taking part in affect students understanding of the charity sector?Do participant feel any better about the state of the world after taking part in the program? Do programs like First Giveâs does have a role to play in addressing concerns about polarisation etc?Further Resources:
First Give's websiteExternal evaluation report on First GiveIsaac's blog, "Giving Feels Good"Philanthropisms podcast episode on teaching philanthropy with Lindsey McDougle and David Campbell.Philanthropisms podcast episode with Natasha Friend and Maria Ahmed on participatory grantmaking -
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In this episode we talk to Emily Teitsworth, Executive Director of the Honnold Foundation (the nonprofit set up by world-famous climber Alex Honnold), about trust, risk and the foundation's work supporting community-led climate work and low-cost solar projects. Including:
How did the Honnold Foundation come about, and what is the organisationâs core focus ?How and why was low cost solar energy chosen as an intervention? What makes this so effective?What is the foundationâs operating model and where do its funds come from?Has it helped to have a high-profile founder in Alex Honnold? How does his involvement in the foundation work?Why is so little philanthropy currently aimed at climate issues? Do we need to stop seeing climate as a âcause areaâ and see it instead as a cross-cutting issue that affects all funders and civil society orgs?Is it a challenge for climate philanthropy that the needs of the planet are often framed as in competition with those of people? How can climate funders overcome this?What kind of due diligence do donors need to do on charities in order to fund them in a trust-based way?Can funding from donors/foundations confer legitimacy on grassroots orgs as well as financial resources? Is this useful for them?Is scaling about helping individual organisations to get bigger, or about growing the overall ecosystem?How can funders design impact measurement approaches with their grantees to ensure they are genuinely empowering and beneficial rather than imposing a new burden?Do we need a better narrative about what it means to âfailâ and to âsucceedâ in philanthropy?Does Alex Honnoldâs background as a climber gives him a unique understanding of risk, and how does this play into the work of the foundation?What role does storytelling and narrative have to play in addressing climate concerns? How is this reflected in Honnold Foundationâs approach? Is the current political moment posing challenges for organisations focussed on climate?Further Reading
Honnold FoundationHonnold Foundation 2025 Impact ReportEmily's article for Alliance, "To build effective climate solutions, embrace human-centred design"Emily's article for Inside Philanthropy (with Suzanne Singer), "Trust-Based Philanthropy Is the Key to a Just Transition"Emily and Alex Honnold on the Invested in Climate podcastWPM article, "Why Isn't All Philanthropy Trust-Based Philanthropy?"Philanthropisms podcasts with Renata Minerbo, Edouard Morena, Joshua Amponsem and Ewan Kirk. -
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On this episode we hear from Renata Minerbo, co-founder and Head of Philanthropy at Be The Earth Foundation, a family foundation focussed on the environment and social justice. Including:
How did Be The Earth come about?How does Be The Earth implement a trust-based approach to grantmaking?How do you ensure that a trust-based approach doesnât risk becoming exclusionary? (i.e. that you arenât limiting your scope to organisations and individuals you already know and trust, but constantly widening the circle?)Why is it so important for Be The Earth that investments are made according to the same principles that drive philanthropic work?What does it mean to have a âclosed loopâ model of investing? Is it always straightforward to decide whether to support something as an investment or as a grant? How do you decide in edge cases?How can donors/funders approach their work with a suitable degree of humility?How can funders and nonprofits overcome the scarcity mindset themselves, and how can they help the organisations they fund to do so? Is it helpful to talk about Next Gen philanthropy?How can philanthropic funders collaborate with each other more effectively?How does Be The Earth use pooled funds as a way of achieving its mission? Why is convening events and gatherings such an important part of Be The Earthâs work?What is flow funding and how does it work?Further Resources:
Be The Earth Foundation"How Can Wealth Regenerate Ecosystems?"Be Hive London and Be Hive Cape WinelandsBe The Earth's impact investmentsWPM, "Three currencies that are more important than money for philanthropy" and "Why Isnât All Philanthropy Trust-Based Philanthropy?"Philanthropisms podcasts featuring Ă©lysse marcellin & Tesmerelna Atsbeha; Sonal Patel; Natasha Friend and Maria Ahmed; and Kate Symondson. -
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On this episode we are joined by Dr Xanthe Scharff, Managing Director for External Affairs and Editor-at-Large at the Freedom Fund, to discuss their work combatting modern slavery and what it is like to receive not one but two major gifts from Mackenzie Scott. Including:
What is Freedom Fundâs mission, and how does it go about delivering on this?What is the scale of modern slavery as an issue? How much philanthropic funding does modern slavery currently attract? How did the original Mackenzie Scott gift come about? ($35m in 2021).How did the second gift then come about? Was there any difference in process from the first gift?What have the gifts from Mackenzie Scott enabled Freedom Fund to do that it otherwise would not have been able to do? Freedom Fund chose to spend the $60m it received from Mackenzie Scott, rather than creating an endowment â what was the thinking behind this?How do you balance increased support for existing partners against the need to expand your work by finding new partners?Will the funding from Mackenzie Scott make it easier or harder to leverage further philanthropic funding? How does the Freedom Fund work as a collaborative/pooled fund?Do collaborative funds make it easier for donors to fund things that they might otherwise deem âtoo riskyâ?When it comes to risk, is the role of an intermediary like Freedom Fund to reduce the risk for funders, or to help them shift their own risk tolerance so they can fund directly in future?Are there challenges in the current political moment when it comes to working on an issue like modern slavery, which overlaps with highly politicised issues around immigration?Have wider attacks on the legitimacy of nonprofits and philanthropy have an effect on Freedom Foundationâs work?Further Resources:
Freedom Fund"How MacKenzie Scott channeled $4 billion via collaboratives", Devex"MacKenzie Scott Gave us $60m. We're Giving it Away", Chronicle of PhilanthropyWPM article, "MacKenzie Scott & the History of Challenging Philanthropyâs Status Quo"Philanthropisms podcast episodes with Rachael Jarosh & Suzanne Ehlers; Elizabeth Barajas-RomĂĄn; and Sara Lomelin. -
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In the thirteenth edition of our podcast partnership with the European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP), we talk to more academics whose work is featured in the latest batch of short, practitioner-focused ERNOP Research Notes.
In this episode we hear from:
Lauren Dula (Binghamton University, State University of New York) & Laurie Paarlberg (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University), about their research into the literature on how power manifests in philanthropic foundations.Marius van Dijke (Nottingham Trent University) about his paper (with Gijs van Houwelingen) looking at the impact that cognitive abstraction has on prosocial behaviour.Oto Potluka (University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague) about his research (with Lenka Svecova, Eva Blahova & Natasa Diatkova) on whether formal and informal volunteering compete for engaged individuals.FURTHER RESOURCES
ERNOP's Research NotesLauren & Laurie's paper, "Philanthropic Foundations and the Exercise of Power: An Integrative Literature Review of the Many Faces of Power", and the accompanying ERNOP research note by Jemima ChanaMarius's paper, "Cognitive abstraction increases prosociality when loyalty is valued lowly, but decreases prosociality when loyalty is valued highly", and the accompanying ERNOP research note by Gerlad Czech.Oto's paper, "Do Formal and Informal Volunteering Compete for Engaged Individuals?", and the accompanying ERNOP research note by Ashifa Agede.If you would like to contribute to making academic work accessible and more relevant for people working in, with or for philanthropy, then why not consider becoming an ERNOP practitioner expert and help translate academic work on philanthropy into research notes in close collaboration with the authors of the original work.
https://ernop.eu/information-for-practitioner-experts/Or, if you or your organisation might be interested in supporting ERNOPâs wider mission to advance philanthropy research and make it accessible to those working in, with, and for philanthropy, then why not consider joining as a member:
https://ernop.eu/member-portal/subscription-plan/ -
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On this episode we are joined by Craig Newmark - founder of Craigslist, philanthropist and recent Giving Pledge signatory - to discuss his thoughts on the importance of philanthropy and how he approaches it. Including:
What was it that particularly made him decide to sign the Giving Pledge last year, given that he has been doing philanthropy at a significant level for a long time now?Part of Craig's stated aim in signing the Giving Pledge is to âinspire really rich people to pony up some doughâ â is this something he is planning on doing primarily by example, or in other ways too?Why were his Sunday School teachers and Leonard Cohen both important in shaping his thinking about giving and responsibility?Why is a desire to âdefend the countryâ a key common thread in Craig's philanthropy, and what are the different ways that manifests?Can it be a challenge these days to be patriotic in a way that isnât seen as partisan or nationalistic? Is it important to use philanthropy to model a âgoodâ version of patriotism?In his Giving Pledge letter Craig wrote thatâMy most effective approach to addressing a manageable number of needs is to build a network of networks of people who know how to get the job done on stuff I care aboutâŠ.I find the group, fund them, nudge them to work together, and get out of the way.â So how does he find the people who know how to get the job done, and what does it mean to âget out of the way?âWhy has cybersecurity and fighting online scams become such a big area of focus? Are there other philanthropists or funders working in this area? Do we need more? What was it that originally drove Craig's interest in supporting journalism through his philanthropy? How has that evolved?Where did his interest in support for military veterans and their families come from?What is the most important lesson he has learned about philanthropy?Further Resources
Craig Newmark PhilanthropiesCraig and Eileen Newmarks' Giving Pledge letterChronicle of Philanthropy, "Craigslist Founder Signs Giving Pledge and Narrows Focus"Nieman Lab, "Craig Newmark explains why heâs pulling back on funding journalism"Fortune, "Craigslist founder signs the Giving Pledge, and his fortune will go to military families, fighting cyberattacksâand a pigeon rescue"Inside Philanthropy, "Why Craig Newmark Is Concerned â and Hopeful â for American Democracy"WPM article "When Nobody Knows Youâre a Dog: Tech, Civil Society, and the Fight for Authenticity"Philanthropisms podcast with Jonathan Heawood -
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In the third and final episode of our "Myths of Philanthropy" series, Rhodri and Chiara are joined by Zaineb Mohammed (Kataly Fund) and Devi Leiper O'Malley (Closer Than You Think) to discuss individualism and scarcity. Including:
What does it mean to have a scarcity mindset, and why is it so common in the nonprofit sector?What does a scarcity mindset lead to?How can funders and nonprofits overcome the scarcity mindset themselves, and how can they help the nonprofits they fund to do so? (E.g. by giving big grants up front, removing restrictions, working over longer timescales etc.)Is there too much competition and not enough collaboration in the nonprofit sector? Why is this?Is the emphasis on competition a legacy of modern institutional philanthropyâs roots in capitalism?How can we design better approaches? What kinds of resources and infrastructure will this require?Can organisational identity be a barrier to effective collaboration?Is the idea that foundations need to exist in perpetuity a reflection of a scarcity mindset? If so, how?Does adopting an abundance mindset make it easier to consider spending down?Why does the myth of the âphilanthropic lone heroâ (i.e. individuals or ogranisations working alone to solve complex social issues) continue to be so pervasive?Is part of the challenge that we find stories about individuals more compelling than ones about systems, so there is a tendency to frame things in terms of the former?How can we effectively recognise the role individuals play whilst at the same time emphasising the importance of the collective?Further Resources:
Zaineb's "Myths of philanthropy" essay, "Leaning Into Abundance: What If Philanthropyâs Potential Wasnât Limited by Manufactured Scarcity?"Devi's "Myths of Philanthropy" essay (with Ruby Johnson and Swatee Deepak), "Solidarity Leadership: What If Philanthropy Encouraged Collaboration Rather Than Competition? "Kataly Foundation Closer Than You Think -
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For the second episode in our "Myths of Philanthropy" series, we are joined by Ă©lysse marcellin (Whose Knowledge?) and Tesmeralna Atsbeha (philanthropic strategist & advisor, formerly Wellspring Philanthropic Fund) to discuss presumed knowledge. Including:
Why do we equate wealth with expertise across a broad range of domains, and why is this a mistake? Do we also make judgements about those who do not have money (i.e. that they have less knowledge or less capacity to absorb funding)?To what extent does the way in which a wealthy donor has made their money inform and shape their view about the role of philanthropy and how to practice it?How can donors approach their philanthropy with a suitable degree of humility?Are those who work in foundations also guilty of equating their position in relation to wealth with expertise in addressing issues? How can we get out of this mindset?Does this require understanding and re-evaluating our own attitudes to money?Does prioritisation of certain kinds of knowledge act as a barrier in philanthropy? How is this reflected in grant application processes, funding decisions etc?What role does language play in marginalising certain forms of knowledge (especially indigenous knowledge)?What does it look like for a philanthropic organisation to demonstrate that it genuinely values a wide range of different forms of knowledge?Further Resources:
Ă©lysse's "Myths of Philanthropy" essay (with Cassie Denbow and Anasuya Sengupta), If You Know You Know: What If Philanthropy is Mistaking Wealth for Expertise?Tesmerelna's "Myths of Philanthropy essay", Reconsidering Our Relationship to Power: What If Philanthropyâs Greatest Resource Isnât Financial but Relational Capital?Liberatory Archives and Memory, a project by Whose knowledge?WPM articles, "Three currencies that are more important than money for philanthropy" and "Language Barriers" -
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In the first episode of our mini-series on "Myths of Philanthropy", Rhodri and Chiara are joined by Lisa Cowan (Director of The Haven Fund, previously Vice President of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation) and Dimple Abichandani (author of A New Era of Philanthropy: Ten Practices to Transform Wealth Into a More Just and Sustainable Future) to discuss the notion of legacy.
Including:
To what extent do foundations exist in perpetuity as a default, rather than an active choice?Would it be enough to shift this norm?Is there evidence that next generation philanthropists take a different view of perpetuity than previous generations?Is this likely to lead to more limited-life foundations being created in future, or more perpetual foundations shifting to a spend down approach?Are there valid arguments in favour of longevity?Are there ways of getting longevity without perpetual endowments? To what extent is adherence to perpetuity driven by funders taking an individualistic perspective? Why is it important to understand the historic roots of the wealth, institutions and practices we have in philanthropy?What should philanthropic organisations do about links to historic injustices? Is it enough to acknowledge them, or do they need to go beyond that and seek means to make reparations somehow? What role did Carnegieâs âGospel of Wealthâ play in justifying extractive or harmful business practices on the grounds that good would be done through philanthropy with the proceeds?Is philanthropy inherently a symptom of structural inequality and injustice, and does this limit its ability to be part of the solution to these challenges? Or are there forms of philanthropy that can be genuine tools for furthering equality and justice, and what do these look like?Does a reparative approach to philanthropy require a fundamental rethink of what we mean by âeffectivenessâ or âsuccessâ?What implications might taking a reparative approach have for the governance of philanthropic funders? (i.e. in terms of who works in foundations and who is on the board?)Further Resources:
Lisa's original Myths of Philanthropy essay, "A Path to Repair: What if Philanthropy Wasnât About Giving Away Money, but Returning It?" Dimple's original Myths of Philanthropy essay, "Spending Stories: What If We Moved from Perpetuity to Purpose?"Dimple's book A New Era of Philanthropy: Ten Practices to Transform Wealth Into a More Just and Sustainable Future)Lisa's websiteDimple's website -
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Rhodri is joined by Mandy van Deven and Chiara Cattaneo from Elemental, to introduce a new 3-part collaborative series on "Myths of Philanthropy". Including:
Why curate a series about the myths of philanthropy? How did the series take shape? Who are the contributors?What are the myths of philanthropy, and where did they come from?What do we hope readers and listeners will take away from this series?Further Resources:
ElementalThe Myths of Philanthropy Filantropia, e se cambiassimo le narrative?Of monsters and margins, or why narrative work should be at the heart of philanthropy now2024 Philanthropisms podcast episode with Mandy and ChiaraWPM article "Three currencies that are more important than money for philanthropy" -
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In our 100th episode we talk to David Campbell (Binghamton University, State University of New York) and Lindsey McDougle (Rutgers University - Newark) about their work on "Experiential Philanthropy" (EP) and using giving as a teaching tool. Including:
What is experiential philanthropy?What are some of the different models for delivering EP courses? Is EP primarily a way of learning about philanthropy, a tool for learning about other subjects, or a means of promoting active citizenship? Do EP courses tend to give participants a primer on what philanthropy is first (i.e. key concepts, approaches, issues etc), or leave it up to them to find their own answers through participation?Are there constraints on what participants can give to? (i.e. in terms of geography, cause area or types of organisations?Does this ever cause problems? (E.g. if students want to give to more political causes, or to unregistered groups)?What sorts of decision-making do groups use? How do they decide how to decide?Is âphilanthropyâ a helpful term for these kinds of courses, or does it bring connotations that might frame things in unhelpful ways?How does taking part in an experiential philanthropy course change studentsâ perceptions of philanthropy? Does it make them more, or less, critical?Are participants more likely to have higher levels of trust in nonprofits, or to view them more positively?Do students go on to support or volunteer for nonprofit organisations they find out about during experiential philanthropy courses?Do the nonprofits that receive funding via an experiential philanthropy program know that that is where the money has come from? What is their perception of this?Where does the money that is being given away usually come from?Does the fact that it isnât âtheir moneyâ affect participants attitudes towards giving it away?What is the main motivation for foundations or philanthropic funders supporting the development and delivery of experiential philanthropy courses? Has the renewed interest in civic engagement and participation in recent years, in light of concerns about political polarisation and division, led to any increase in funders looking to support experiential philanthropy?Further Resources:
Lindsey's personal websiteDavid's Binghamton University profile pageLindsey's articles "On Teaching Philanthropy" and "Can Philanthropy be Taught?"David's articles, "The experiential philanthropy canon: What students read in
experiential philanthropy courses and why it matters" and "Practicing philanthropy in American higher education: Cultivating engaged citizens and nonprofit sector professionals"WPM article "Language Barriers: is the way we talk about philanthropy and civil society holding us back?"Philanthropisms podcast interviews with Natasha Friend & Maria Ahmed, and with David Clarke. -
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In this episode we talk to Jonathan Heawood, Executive Director of the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF), about the role philanthropy can play in funding public interest journalism, and some of the opportunities and challenges this might bring. Including:
How do we define public interest journalism?What are the key challenges for news providers in the modern digital landscape? What role can philanthropy play in addressing these challenges?Why is local news particularly important, and why does it face particular challenges?Do philanthropic funders tend to see journalism funding as a means to an end, i.e. a way of furthering their own cause, rather than a public good in itself? Is this changing, and what can be done to make the case?What role could philanthropic funding for public interest journalism play in addressing concerns about the erosion of democracy and the challenges of mis- and disinformation?Will growing concerns about populism and the threat of the far right lead more funders and donors to start supporting public interest journalism?What have the barriers traditionally been when it comes to philanthropic funding of journalism and news media in the UK?Is there a potential challenge in maintaining editorial independence when receiving philanthropic funding?Is there a danger that in encouraging philanthropic support for news media, we make journalism a âcharity caseâ and thus undermine peopleâs willingness to pay for it in the long term?Are there things that we can learn from other countries when it comes to nonprofit news models and philanthropic funding for journalism?Further Resources:
Public Interest News FoundationMedia Impact Funders (US) and Journalism Funders Forum (Europe)Jonathan's 2022 blog for Beacon, "Good News? Can philanthropy unlock a better media landscape?"Jonathan's 2024 Guardian article, "Local news in the UK is in deep trouble. But this band of radicals could change everything".Rhodri's 2018 Alliance article, "Philanthropy should fund the media for its own sake".Philanthropisms podcasts with Teddy Schleifer, Charles Keidan, Farai Chideya and Daniel Stid.Philanthropisms podcast on philanthropy & populism. -
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In this episode we talk to Ann Mei Chang, CEO of Candid, about the opportunities and challenges when it comes to collecting and publishing data on the nonprofit sector. Including:
How does Candid decide what data to collect beyond whatâs available from IRS filings?How can we ensure that data collection benefits nonprofits rather than burdening them? How are nonprofits using Candid data?What role could the nonprofit sector take in modeling more ethical and transparent approaches to data collection and use?What kinds of data does Candid publish on federal funding for nonprofits, and how can this information help organizations and funders navigate potential funding cuts or shifts in todayâs political environment? How can better data help make giving smarter, more equitable, and more collaborative? How important is data when it comes to building and maintaining public trust in philanthropy and nonprofits?How can we ensure that data reflects the diversity of the nonprofit sector and helps to close equity gaps?How is Candid using AI in its operations? How is the organisation partnering with tech providers?What role can better data play in helping nonprofits to navigate political and economic uncertainty?Further Resources:
CandidPress release: "Candid partners with Anthropic to bring trusted data to Claude for Nonprofits" Philanthropisms interviews with Asha Curran, J Bob Alotta, Aaron Horvath and Lucy Bernholz.WPM articles "Philanthropy at a Time of Chaos" and "Why Are We So Bad at Measuring Giving and Why Does It Matter?" -
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In the twelfth edition of our podcast partnership with the European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP), we talk to more academics whose work is featured in the latest batch of short, practitioner-focused ERNOP Research Notes.
In this episode we hear from:
Peter Vandor (WU Wien), about his research (with Fabian Dober, Michael Meyer and Reinhard Millner) into how social investors make decisions about what to fund.Jo Bacon & Claire Routley (University of Kent) about their paper (with Beth Breeze) looking at the motivations and needs of donors to hospices.Michaela Neumayr (WU Wien) about her research (with Hanna Schneider) on the different ways that nonprofit organisations make sense of corporate volunteering relationships.Further Resources:
ERNOP's Research NotesPeter's paper (with Fabian Dober, Michael Meyer and Reinhard Millner) "Evaluating impact potential in early-stage impact investing: Investment criteria and cognitive processes of investors" and the accompanying ERNOP research note, by Ana PimentaJo and Claires' paper (with Beth Breeze) "What Influence Do Death, Dying and Bereavement Have on Philanthropic Giving Within Hospice Care?" and the accompanying ERNOP research note, by Andrea Goezinne Tine & Tine's paper (with Glen Timmermans), "How Nonprofits Make Sense of Corporate Volunteering: Explaining Different Forms of Nonprofit-Business Collaboration" and the accompanying ERNOP research note by Anh P. Nguyen.If you would like to contribute to making academic work accessible and more relevant for people working in, with or for philanthropy, then why not consider becoming an ERNOP practitioner expert and help translate academic work on philanthropy into research notes in close collaboration with the authors of the original work.
https://ernop.eu/information-for-practitioner-experts/Or, if you or your organisation might be interested in supporting ERNOPâs wider mission to advance philanthropy research and make it accessible to those working in, with, and for philanthropy, then why not consider joining as a member:
https://ernop.eu/member-portal/subscription-plan/ -
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In this episode we offer thoughts on the trends and topics that are going to shape philanthropy and civil society in 2026. Including:
Philanthropy & Charities
Ongoing political challenges for US philanthropy (more attacks on the legitimacy of foundations; will Trump weaponise the IRS?)More billion-dollar gifts; more donors signalling intent (e.g. by joining the Giving Pledge); the emergence of some new big-money philanthropists (including some high-profile women?)How will global civil society adapt to a new normal post-USAID?Will Asia start to shape global philanthropy?As the âimpact economy" reframing takes hold in the UK, where will philanthropy fit in?Will the further rise of populism and the far right in UK lead to more attacks on charities and foundations? Renewed focus on locality/place as a lens for philanthropy?Societal Trends
Will the growing desire for comfort/de-stressing and the emphasis on individual solutions contribute to the erosion of associational life? Do CSOs need to make the case for collective forms of wellbeing?Will growing demands for authenticity require CSOs to take stronger lines on issues, and to accord with supporters views and values?As people increasingly look to individuals as sources of authority, will CSOs need to find ways of partnering with influencers?As concerns about declining population growth enter the mainstream, what impact will this have on philanthropy and civil society?Technology:
As platform philanthropy continues to grow, will we start to see the âenshittification of giving"?How can charities navigate the challenges of AI slop and misinformation?Will we see further ethical questions about CSOs use of GenAI?As search shifts towards GenA, will charities need to adapt to a new normal in which no-one visits their websites anymore?Is 2026 the year that technologies weâve been talking about for a long time become mainstream? (E.g. autonomous vehicles, smart home appliances, AR/VR/Smart glasses?)Is 2026 the year of Quantum technology? (And what implications will this have for philanthropy and civil society?)Further Resources:
WPM articles on Peter Thiel and Elon MuskWPM guide to quantum technology and philanthropy & civil societyPhilanthropisms podcast episodes on populism and AIEuromonitor's 2026 Global Consumer Trends reportNieman Labs 2026 Predictions for Journalism -
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On this episode of the Philanthropisms podcast we speak to Philippa Charles OBE, Chief Executive of the DFN Foundation, about the role of foundations and what it means to be a good grantmaker. Including:
What is required to make core cost funding work from the funderâs point of view?What challenges do current grant application processes present for charities? How can we minimise or overcome these challenges?The relationship between fundraisers and funders (or donors) is often portrayed as somewhat antagonistic. How do we reframe it as a partnership in which both sides are benefitting?How do you say no to funding requests in a constructive way?How can fundraisers build longer-term relationships with funders and donors?What else can donors/funders bring to the table beyond money?How useful is access to a donor/funderâs networks for grantees?Is there too much competition and not enough collaboration in the philanthropy sector? Why is this?It is often argued that a key part of the role of philanthropy is to drive society forward by taking risks and funding things that the state and market cannot â but has philanthropy become too risk-averse? Do we need a better narrative about what it means to âfailâ and to âsucceedâ in philanthropy?Do foundations in general currently give enough each year as a percentage of their overall assets? Is there an argument for encouraging/pushing them to give more?Are their arguments in favour of at least some foundations existing for the long term (or in perpetuity)?Further Resources:
https://dfnfoundation.org/Philanthropisms podcast episodes with Sonal Patel, Sally Vivyan & Oli French, and Kate Symondson. WPM articles: âWhy Isnât All Philanthropy Trust-Based Philanthropy?â and âWhatâs The Point of Philanthropic Foundations? Part 3: Current Issuesâ -
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In this episode we talk to Rachael Jarosh and Suzanne Ehlers, Chair and CEO respectively of USA for UNHCR, the US-based support organisation for the United Nations refugee agency, about their new women-led philanthropy project Building Better Futures. Including
What is the aim of the Building Better Futures campaign and how did it come about?Why was it decided to focus on access to education? What makes that such an powerful catalyst for wider change?Why do female refugees face particular challenges when it comes to accessing education?Does fundraising from female donors need to be done differently? If so, how?Why is narrative and storytelling so important?What impact does applying a gender lens to funding have?Do female donors put more of an emphasis on collective approaches? What additional value can this bring?Is it easier or harder for a large organisation like the UNHCR to fundraise from donors than for a smaller organisation?Are there particular challenges right now for organisations working with refugees and migrants? How can these be overcome?Further Resources:
USA for UNHCRThe Building Better Futures campaignJessica de Rothschild talking about her involvement with Building Better Futures in Spears MagazineSuzanne and Jessica de Rothschild's article for Inside Philanthropy, "Fundraising Wasnât Built for Women. So We Built Something New"WPM article "Philanthropy at a time of chaos"Philanthropisms podcasts with Sarah Jeffrey, Victoria Tayler & Lonnie Hackett; Lisa Greer, Farahnaz Karim; and Elizabeth Barajas-RomĂĄn -
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In this episode we talk to Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday, about the evolution of Giving Tuesday from its origins as a US-based giving day to its current incarnation as a global generosity movement operating in over 100 countries worldwide; and what she has learned about the power of everyday acts of giving. Including:
How has GivingTuesday evolved since its inception over a decade ago?What are the key aims of the organisation today?How important does the actual Giving Tuesday day itself remain? What does success look like on the day?What is the role of the GT Data Commons? Is there a decline in generosity in the US (and other countries), or is giving just evolving into new forms?Can emphasising the impact of small acts of generosity give people a sense of agency at a time when they might otherwise feel powerless in the face of major challenges facing our world? Does collective giving build social capital? Can mass giving movements help to counter concerns about the potentially anti-democratic impact of big money philanthropy?Have the Trump administrationâs attacks on philanthropy and nonprofits had any impact on GivingTuesday as an organisation and on its mission?What lessons should the nonprofit sector should be taking from populist attacks?FURTHER READING:
Giving TuesdayGiving Tuesday Data CommonsAsha's 2023 SSIR article "The Case for Effusive Altruism"BBC article from 2022, "Giving Tuesday: How day for 'radical generosity' went global"2021 event "Rewriting the Rules of Giving", moderated by Rhodri, featuring Asha, Lucy Bernholz and Edgar Villanueva.WPM articles, "Language Barriers: is the way we talk about philanthropy and civil society holding us back?" and "Why Are We So Bad at Measuring Giving and Why Does It Matter?"Philanthropisms podcast episodes with Pamala Wiepking, Sara Lomelin and Lucy Bernholz. - Show more
