What is Giving Compass?
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Giving Compass' Take:
• Johnson Center shares 11 significant trends in philanthropy that we will see in 2020, ranging from increased critiques of big philanthropy to the role of funders in addressing climate change.
• What do you think your role is as a donor to tackle complex problems?
• Read more about the role of philanthropy in democracy.
As this fourth annual Trends report is being written, the public and private sectors are in a time of upheaval. With the impending United States presidential election, partisanship is escalating. The impeachment of our current president, the authority to engage in military operations, and the ongoing divides over social issues such as abortion and transgender rights have all played into widening the divide. Although the U.S. economy is going strong in many respects, some business segments are in rapid decline due to changes in consumer behavior (especially the shift to online shopping) and the impacts of international trade tensions.
At the same time, the philanthropic sector has been roiled by critiques of the role that billionaire philanthropists play in influencing public policy, and we see these critiques as continuing. However, we also see the philanthropic sector as being best positioned to help unite us, domestically and internationally, to address some of the global challenges we face. As a sector, we focus on solving problems, meeting human needs, and developing innovative approaches to addressing complex situations.
Now, for the fourth year in a row, experts and thought leaders from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy explore 11 trends in philanthropy for 2020 to help you anticipate and embrace what’s next.
Read the full report on trends in philanthropy at the Johnson Center.
Across our field, in politics, in business, and in our communities, Americans are questioning the very nature of philanthropy and probing its core value. These questions ask who has the responsibility — or the right — to tackle complex problems like poverty and climate change. They ask how nonprofits and funders are evolving in response to community needs. They ask what is just, and they ask what is kind.