British philanthropy is in the midst of a sea change: more wealthy people are giving, and in more sophisticated ways. Donors of all wealth levels are becoming more engaged, and seeking to have real impact. But this ‘new philanthropy’ is not solely a UK phenomenon.
Around the globe, individuals are increasingly embracing philanthropy to ‘give back to society’ and to test innovative approaches to tackling complex social problems.
For example, the devastation of the Sichuan earthquake inspired a surge in direct giving in China, in contrast to the commonly accepted practice of giving through government-led foundations (see ‘Complex giving structures reflect China’s turbulent growth’ in our June 2008 Newsletter). And our special report on Women & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving (March 2008), offers a global perspective on gender and giving, with overviews of female philanthropy in seven countries.
In this issue, we explore emerging trends in philanthropy in six countries and regions outside Western Europe. All of the authors are intimately engaged in philanthropy in their countries, and proud of their own organisations, as these articles demonstrate.
In Brazil, India and the Middle East, for example, our contributors highlight the central role that religion has historically played in supporting the needy through charity, and how today individuals are increasingly inspired to take independent action, seeking to achieve sustained social change. And in South Africa, the end of apartheid, and its consequent drop in international aid, has forced many non-profits to turn to individual and corporate donors for support. Meanwhile, the ultra-wealthy Russian oligarchs are a major force for private philanthropy in their country, and international trends continue to heavily influence changes in Turkish philanthropy.
While the driving forces of change vary across these countries, they all share two trends in common. First, there is a shift from ‘charity’ to ‘philanthropy’ – commonly understood as the difference between tackling causes rather than symptoms – as donors become more strategic in their giving. Second, these profiles underscore the important and growing role of private philanthropy in sustaining a healthy and vibrant civil society.
