Covid-19 has revealed some valuable lessons that have shaped the way we think of solutions and the way we invest in them. Since early 2020, philanthropic institutions have been responding with fierce urgency to support non-profits in their interventions, and communities worst hit by the virus and its subsequent variants. In doing so, three important learnings have emerged.

Firstly, a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach is key to solving developmental issues. This entails harnessing the potential of the interlinkages between various sectors and converging corporates, government, civil society, impact investing, tech community, policymakers to work together.

Secondly, the developmental issues of society need to be solved at a systemic level. For instance, where there is no electricity, there is no light, no access to the tools that power business, and only limited access to modern healthcare or education. Providing reliable electricity is the first step toward helping a community lift itself from poverty.

And lastly, we need to invest in the future as we address current issues.

Paying attention to these lessons is important because each year, foundations around the world, spend more than $150 billion to support the social sector working on a range of programs. Having said that, the disruptions caused by the pandemic at social and economic levels have led philanthropic foundations to pivot funding for emergency response and Covid-19 recovery. Let us now look at three ways in which philanthropy will need to work in the post-pandemic era.

Read the full article about how philanthropy is tackling future crises by Deepali Khanna at Alliance Magazine.