Giving Compass' Take:

• An article by The Philanthropy Workshop encourages fast-moving, strategic action for a collaborative, effective response to coronavirus.

• What are we learning from coronavirus about our philanthropic capacity? What can strategic action do to increase this? How can you increase your giving to address the needs provoked by the virus? 

• Learn more about why you should increase your giving during the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 has kickstarted a conversation across the social sector about the role of philanthropy in responding to the crisis. An encouraging consensus is emerging: now is the time for swift, strategic action.

The big question is, what does ‘strategic’ look like in an emergency? In multiple virtual convenings held across our community of investors at The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW), we have heard a number of themes emerging.

Most salient is the idea that the core principles of strategic philanthropy are not only still relevant – but are more important than ever. Collaboration and coordination, for example, are essential to avoid duplication.

Funding in collaboration may also help funders to take on greater risk.

Due diligence processes are being made less cumbersome to grantees, and funding is being de-restricted. This represents a shift in power dynamics that has to be sustained after the crisis to build the resilience of the social sector.

Coronavirus has forced the philanthropy sector to recognise that the traditional modus operandi is no longer tenable. Social investors have an opportunity – not just to play a vital role in helping communities across the world to survive and thrive – but also to commit to more strategic practices that will break the cycle of inequity, fragility, crisis and collapse.

For that opportunity to be taken, funders need to stay connected, communicate with each other and consider their role in a wider systemic response. This is core to our mission at TPW to mobilise social change leaders committed to unlocking resources and lifelong learning.

In the words of Former Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, ‘one cannot address a crisis without leaders willing to lead.’

Read the full article about strategic philanthropic action from The Philanthropy Workshop at Alliance Magazine.