As the leader of a team within the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation charged with anticipating the future, I was hoping for the 2026 GPF to bring ‘a-ha’ moments on advancing future philanthropy. I was not disappointed in the suggestions for changing philanthropy's source code.

The theme of the 2026 Global Philanthropy Leaders Summit, ‘Architecting the future: Operating systems for a new era of philanthropy,’ was right up my alley. I was hoping for new insights and ideas about how best to advance health and wellbeing for everyone within the US. I was eager to ask leaders from a range of countries, backgrounds, and institutions to share their hunches about our collective futures.

Key Takeaways About Changing Philanthropy's Source Code

The language and strategies of changing philanthropy's source code for futuring were as much a part of the design of the meeting as they were echoed in the content of the talks–the word ’emergence’ was all over the agenda. Artefacts from the future lined the walls of the facility and stories of the future of philanthropy allowed us to leapfrog into the future before figuring out how we got there.

Panels were filled with experts with experience and insight about the trends that could serve as tailwinds or headwinds as we push towards a more equitable future. Leaders urged us from the stage to be prepared for the opportunities and challenges that our organisations and our grantees will experience as we enter a ‘transformation era marked by geopolitical fragmentation, technological acceleration, and growing pressure on global institutions.’ They also invited us to create shared visions of philanthropy to change philanthropy's source code and experiment with new ideas that have the potential to shape how this era plays out for everyone.

There was a strong, urgent call for change within philanthropy–and not just around the margins. Philanthropy has already received the message that grant recipients need large, flexible grants over multiple years with minimum reporting requirements. We already believe that we should fund work to strengthen ecosystems, not divide them. If we understand our power and privilege, and acknowledge the inadvertent and intentional harm done by philanthropy in the past and present, then what is taking us so long to change?

Read the full article about changing philanthropy's source code by Lori Melichar at Alliance Magazine.