Giving Compass' Take:

• In this story from Medium, author Connor Diemand-Yauman recounts his experiences at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He shares some of the questions and insights brought up by cross-sector leaders.

• Diemand-Yauman mentions that only a small percentage of local organizations can access the necessary capacity building resources, therefore we should "unite our efforts in a more standardized, streamlined, and effective way." What does this look like, and in what ways could organizations collaborate to make this happen?

• To learn about one Swedish team who spoke truth to power about climate change to the Davos elite, click here.


[Recently] cross-sector leaders jetted to the quaint, bitterly cold streets of Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum’s hallmark event, a jam-packed and dizzyingly fast-paced week of meetings, panels, and parties. The week combines the gravity of a NATO summit with the overstuffed, vibrating energy of a music festival.

But amidst the flurry of handshakes, grand commitments, and side meetings, one event held particular significance for me: for the first time, Philanthropy University, the organization I lead, formally hosted foundation leaders, corporate CEOs, civil society visionaries, and even heads of state to discuss the focus of all our efforts: the monumental challenges and opportunities surrounding the use of technology to upskill and fund local, mission-driven organizations worldwide.

I left Davos feeling unbelievably inspired by our attendees and the conversations shared with them. Below, I summarize some of the crucial questions and themes raised by the 20+ cross-sector leaders.

Where is capacity building headed?

We reflected on the fact that the status quo of capacity building is “high-touch, high cost,” so only a very small percentage of local organizations gain access to the quality capacity building they need to thrive. We see significant opportunity to unite our efforts in a more standardized, streamlined, and effective way.

Civil society and the private sector’s role in “filling the void”

One common refrain during our event was the staggering negligence of governments around the world ... The corporate leaders in attendance reflected on the importance of the private sector pursuing a multi-stakeholder model and a development model, and they noted the profitability of this focus if executed correctly.

Read the full article about philanthropy at the World Economic Forum by Connor Diemand-Yauman at Medium