Philanthropy in Russia: An Insider’s View

Charitable giving and philanthropy in Russia is slightly more than twenty years old. It all started in early 1990 with a number of newly established companies that gave to all sorts of issues on an ad hoc basis. A fewRead more…

Philanthropy in Brazil: An Insider’s View

The Brazilian philanthropic landscape presents great challenges but also interesting opportunities that could result in Brazil becoming a leading force among the BRIC countries in terms of social investment. Fueled in part by French economist Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the 21stRead more…

Should you join a giving circle?

Joining or creating a Giving Circle enables you to socialise your giving by linking you with like-minded donors in order to choose and support causes of mutual interest. In last month’s philanthropy column the Giving Circle channel was introduced as one wayRead more…

The 5 W’s of Philanthropy

Too often fundraising appeals emphasize what the charity needs, not what the supporter wants. Customized, strategic communication should focus on identifying and building relationships to increase donations and support. Who are your fundraisers? What is the demographic makeup of your supporters andRead more…

Local traditions and global context: understanding Arab philanthropy

Studies on global philanthropy indicate that cultural traditions, religious norms, political histories, and the economic strength of individual countries have profoundly shaped giving in individual countries and geographical regions, creating a rich and diverse global philanthropic landscape. However, some commonalitiesRead more…

Philanthropy has more intrinsic benefits than you think

Children are hungry. Polar ice caps are melting. Injustice and inequality run rampant. The education system is broken. Natural places are diminishing. Arts groups are folding. The list goes on. Any objective person recognizes the urgent need for philanthropy, asRead more…

Beyond the Pioneer: Getting Inclusive Industries to Scale

The proliferation of market-based solutions to poverty has been one of the most exciting developments in the fight against poverty in recent years. Their lack of scale has been one of the great disappointments. The urgent challenge of today isRead more…

Charitable Giving in the U.S. vs the UK

“The UK should not aspire to a U.S. model of philanthropy and tax incentives — it is not replicable and is a unique product of social, political and historical factors,” a report released by the UK-based Charities Aid Foundation back inRead more…