Sarah Davies: Mirror mirror…

July 11th, 2018

Tara Kenny, an Australian writer and researcher in New York, has spent a year exploring what she thinks are the most compelling ideas, strategies and philosophies in philanthropy in the US and globally.

When you have the opportunity to look at something you think you know through a new frame or lens, the resulting insights can be anything from confronting, affirming, inspirational and motivational. Tara Kenny, an Australian writer and researcher in New York, has spent a year exploring what she thinks are the most compelling ideas, strategies and philosophies in philanthropy in the US and globally. She was keen to understand the sector from a “next-gen, outsider perspective” (her words). Her report (a fab read -refreshing and surprising) can be found on the Learning Hub of the Better Giving Hub and here. All research was conducted with a view to applying findings within an Australian context and Tara was supported and mentored by Jason Franklin and Genevieve Timmons (both PA favorites!).

Tara’s work was funded by our own Stephen Hains of the Portland House Foundation. Stephen is one of our inaugural Philanthropy Champions and has supported Tara to investigate the trends and developments in philanthropy.

The report identifies and explores seven key themes:

• The Next Gen Influencing Donor Identity: How next gen donors are finding, clarifying and influencing personal and collective donor identity in order to guide giving.
• Collective Giving: Giving smarter by building partnerships and using structures for giving and learning with others.
• Participatory Philanthropy and Participatory Grantmaking: Challenging power dynamics within philanthropy, sharing power, and utilising community knowledge.
• Impact Investing: Ethical investing, blending the lines between philanthropy and investing, and outcomes and data driven philanthropy.
• Supporting Grassroots Activism and Social Change: Supporting the trailblazers of systems change in nonprofits and social change movements.
• Investing in Human Capital: Building the effectiveness and capacity of agents for change.
• Partnerships and Convening: Facilitating and engaging in partnerships across the nonprofit, private and government sectors.

Enjoy the read!

Sarah Davies
CEO Philanthropy Australia