Status of and Trends in Private Philanthropy in the Southern Hemisphere
By Peggy Dulany and David Winder | December 2001 | View Full Text | Email Link

Abstract

Peggy Dulany is Chair of The Synergos Institute. David Winder is Director of Synergos' Global Philanthropy & Foundation Building program. This discussion paper was produced for the Executive Session on the Future of Philanthropy of the International Network on Strategic Philanthropy, held in October 2001 at Harvard University.

The Executive Session on the Future of Philanthropy has thus far focused almost entirely on the United States, therefore, it is useful to look at what is already happening in other parts of the world- the Southern Hemisphere.

The paper discusses trends affecting the growth of strategic philanthropy, the emergence of institutionalized philanthropy in the South (such as Colombia, The Philippines, South Africa and India), and the role of community foundations in enhancing philanthropy in these southern countries. Specifically, it is the cross-sectoral, cross-level, cross-ideological convening function these foundations play that contributes to the overcoming of some of these impediments to strengthening philanthropy in the South.

The Synergos Institute has been engaged in studying and promoting philanthropy in the Southern Hemisphere for the past twelve years through surveys, case studies and workshops and through actively engaging with groups trying to build foundations and, more recently, associations of foundations or philanthropy support organizations. This paper draws on our research and work in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The Synergos Institute has surveyed the state of institutional philanthropy in Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and preliminary surveys in Malaysia and Singapore), and Latin America (Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico) and has conducted a preliminary survey in Southern Africa. These surveys map the current universe of grantmaking foundations (private, corporate and community) and, in addition to an analytic section, provide a directory of organizations (see the Knowledge Base for these materials). The term "civil society resource organizations" (CSROs) has been used to refer to grantmaking foundations in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa. We have also, through our work in a number of countries in these regions, met extensively with private philanthropists and corporate foundation officers to listen to their thinking and observe their work.

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Philanthropic Actors & Issues | Philanthropy -- Overview | Social Justice & Community Development | Community Foundations | Business Philanthropy & Social Investment | Philanthropy Support Organizations | Philanthropy Directories & Surveys | Africa (Sub-Saharan) | Mozambique | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Americas | Brazil | Ecuador | Mexico | Indonesia | Malaysia | The Philippines | Singapore | Southeast Asia | Thailand