The UK government recently announced plans to deport undocumented refugees to Rwanda as part of a controversial plan to tackle immigration. The United Kingdom’s hardline approach to the refugee crisis points to a polarized debate many countries are grappling with: What are the costs of immigration and asylum seeking on host communities? Do we, as a public and as individuals, have a moral duty to welcome refugees into our societies?

The Ukrainian refugee crisis is just the latest in a series to hit the headlines. Last year, the mass exodus of Afghans made headlines after Western forces’ botched withdrawal from the country. In its 12th year, the Syrian refugee crisis remains the world’s largest such crisis of this century, with roughly 6.8 million Syrians now refugees and asylum-seekers.

Significant funding is urgently needed to address these conflicts as well as other less widely reported humanitarian crises. Philanthropists are uniquely positioned to help in these times of crisis. They provide much-needed support to NGOs and a sector still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also have the agility, motivation, resources, and, crucially, the financial means to play an important connecting role between governments and the third sector.

When government, the private sector, and philanthropic organizations work in partnership, charitable support is often more innovative and delivered faster than when delivered in isolation. Philanthropists can form strategic partnerships between various stakeholders, including businesses, public organizations, and local groups. In doing so, philanthropists often attract other private-sector funding, resulting in charities being able to leverage and distribute more funds efficiently.

The convening role that foundations, private trusts, and other philanthropic organizations play in connecting the public and private sectors can also drive important systems and policy change at the government level. Strategic philanthropists understand the importance of building a fairer and more equitable society long after an initial crisis has passed. When there is overwhelming public support for a cause, leveraging the resources and network of the private sector to convene organizations and share a wide variety of perspectives and insights can be key to driving constructive policy change.

Read the full article about philanthropy and philanthropy and the refugee crisis by John Canady at Philanthropy News Digest.