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The US Agency for International Development is under pressure from some of its staff who say the governmental organisation, who help fund and collaborate private philanthropies, has been unable to grasp the severity of the Gaza crisis unfolding, amid a devastating bombing campaign by Israel.  During an open event named ‘critical importance of supporting and safeguarding health workers’ in Washington DC in early April, USAID assistant administrator for global health Atul Gawande struggled to answer questions from health workers about whether he condemned Israel’s war on Gaza, which has kil ..read more

The billionaire’s philanthropy is corrosive to everything philanthropy should stand for For one of the world’s richest and most famous men, who exerts a magnetic forcefield of attention, it is remarkable that comparatively little has been written about Elon Musk’s philanthropy – until, that … This article is only available for our subscribers. View on Alliance magazine The post Elon Musk: An enemy of philanthropy appeared first on Alliance magazine ..read more

Jaime Pumarejo, a former Colombian mayor, is taking the helm at Breathe Cities as executive director. The clean air initiative is a partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities, which supports cities around the world to cut their air pollution and climate emissions.  Pumarejo will lead the programme after serving as mayor of Barranquilla for three years since 2020.  He steered the city of 1.2 million, known as the ‘golden gate of Colombia’ through the pandemic crisis, which saw 6.5 million Colombians nationwide contract the Covid-19 virus and over ..read more

Swarovski Foundation director Jakya Rahman-Corey says there is a power imbalance between funders and grantees remains rife in philanthropy.  ‘Unfortunately, there is a power imbalance between funders and organisations on the ground and to recognise that goes back to the object of the grant-giving body – what is it trying to achieve?’, she told Civil Society.   Born and raised in the UK, Rahman-Corey was inspired to ‘give back’ after witnessing ‘extreme poverty’ during a trip to Bangladesh, where her family originate.  There, she also saw ‘young girls in the village getting marri ..read more

Reflecting on discussions held in Belfast, framed by the question ‘Countering Violent Conflict and Polarisation: How Can Donors Help?’ Melanie Greenberg (Humanity United) praised the event – ‘I think it was for creative imagination, moral support, celebration, but also for some serious reflection.’  Held in February 2024, the gathering was timely given global events.  Some 200 participants, from a wide range of regions and organisations, delivered a vibrancy and sense of urgency to the issues under discussion.  Charles Keidan, executive editor of Alliance, commented on the prese ..read more

There are three core issues we can’t afford to ignore this year. First, globally we experienced the hottest February in recorded history, second is that more than half the world’s population is going to the polls this year, including the UK. Third, the World Economic Forum shared its Global Risks Report 2024 which warns of a global risks landscape in which it cites misinformation and disinformation as the biggest short-term risks, while extreme weather and critical change to Earth systems are its greatest long-term concern. In the UK, we already know all about this. From 15-minute cities consp ..read more

Recent growth in violent conflict across the world means that philanthropy has little choice but to address it. While the world’s media are focused on Ukraine and the Middle East, other regions including Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen to name a few are also in the midst of civil war. The Global Peace … This article is only available for our subscribers. View on Alliance magazine The post The emerging story of philanthropy and peace appeared first on Alliance magazine ..read more

COP28 paved the way for a consensus-built commitment to transition away from fossil fuels. However, the implementation and pathways for the transition will be complex and require responsible and equitable managem­ent. Philanthropy can help facilitate a transition to climate-compatible growth, including in many low-income countries that are dependent on fossil fuels. Achieving this transition requires a nuanced understanding of the diverse challenges across countries and communities. To support low-carbon climate solutions without hindering development, philanthropy should take a multifaceted a ..read more

The recent report on global happiness has delivered a sobering revelation: the United States, once a fixture in the top 20, now finds itself at 23rd place, with young adults under 30 ranking a disheartening 62nd worldwide. This stark contrast in happiness levels prompts a critical question: what factors underpin such divergence? The report identifies a myriad of well-being indicators contributing to this contrast, including income disparities, unequal access to education and healthcare, social exclusion, and the absence of robust support structures at familial, communal, and national levels. T ..read more