News & Updates
August 2025
Pioneering Agricultural Intelligence in Nigeria
Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, with Synergos Nigeria as technical partner and AGRA as funder, launched the country’s first Agriculture Intelligence Unit (AIU) – an office within the Ministry hosting a real-time data dashboard that is transforming how government, farmers, and private stakeholders understand and respond to trends in the agricultural sector.
August 2025
A Visit to the ICBC Project Childcare Center in Bangladesh
Sazia Afrin of Synergos Bangladesh describes a visit to a childcare center in Mymensingh District - in the north central part of Bangladesh, one of 8,000 government-run childcare centers, part of the government’s Integrated Community Based Center for Child Care, Protection and Swim-Safe Facilities (ICBC) Project.
August 2025
Peggy Dulany and Camille Massey’s Visit to Brazil: Reflections on Philanthropy and Social Impact
This trip not only reinforced our commitment to local philanthropy but also highlighted the importance of spaces for dialogue and collaboration—hallmarks of Synergos’ work and essential for building solutions that effectively address local inequalities and promote collective well-being.
July 2025
Tending the Hearth: A testimony from Synergos’ South Africa Director
The Global Hearth Summit, hosted by the Wellbeing Project, helped cultivate a space that honored the understanding: that the wellbeing of those at the center of change is inseparable from the change itself. Marlene Ogawa of Synergos South Africa, reflects on the Summit and how inner wellbeing can nourish not just individuals, but the very systems they seek to transform.
July 2025
Philanthropy in the Age of AI: A Conversation With Jonathan Evens
We had the pleasure of interviewing Jonathan Evens, a next-generation philanthropist and AI trailblazer who’s helping shape the future of technology, with a deep respect for the past. He leads product at Google DeepMind, where he’s focused on transforming Google Search with cutting-edge AI features. But Jonathan isn’t just passionate about what AI can do, he’s deeply invested in how it’s done.
May 2025
2025 Bridging Leadership Awards Celebrate Courage
The David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Awards recognize exemplary individuals who embody bridging leadership – the unique ability to build trust for collective action. It is the type of leadership that’s led to remarkable results in Synergos programs around the world for almost 40 years. And it is exactly the type of leadership we need now more than ever.
May 2025
Saudi Social Entrepreneurs Join Synergos Network
As an expansion to Synergos’ large network of social entrepreneurs in the MENA region, we welcomed an impressive new cohort from Saudi Arabia. These five women are furthering development in their communities in remarkable ways, such as shifting food systems, supporting emotional social skills for children, or working to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
May 2025
Video: What does courage mean to you?
Bridging leadership requires the courage to stand for our values even when challenged. As part of the 2025 David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Awards, we asked members of Synergos’ global network the question “What does courage mean to you?”
March 2025
Reflections from the 2025 GPC Gathering in Asia
The GPC Gathering reinforced a powerful truth: philanthropy is both an outward-facing and deeply personal endeavour. As we move forward, the GPC community remains committed to fostering the collaborative leadership, intergenerational dialogue, and bold action needed to tackle the urgent societal challenges we are faced with.
2024
December 2024
Platforma Conjunta Strengthens Brazilian CSOs
Synergos believes strong civil society organizations are vital for more just, equitable, and sustainable futures. That is why we are members of Platforma Conjunta, a collaborative initiative that began from Instituto ACP, Instituto humanize, and GIFE for the development and strengthening of Brazil’s civil society organizations.
November 2024
Becoming Better Ancestors - Reflection on the GPC Retreat in Europe
Being a “better ancestor” is not a distant aspiration but a call to integrate empathy, resilience, and intentionality in our lives today. As we go forward, let’s continue this reflection and bring these insights into our communities. How can we, in our daily lives, practice generous listening? How can we foster resilience and optimism not only for ourselves but for those who will follow?
November 2024
GPC Member Profile: Martin Dunn
Martin Dunn is a philanthropist and entrepreneur whose journey has been deeply shaped by both his professional ambition and a personal commitment to self-awareness and growth. Throughout his career, Dunn has embraced the inner work of understanding himself better – acknowledging his evolving passions and learning to listen to his own needs. This introspective approach has not only helped him navigate complex social issues with authenticity, but it has also strengthened his ability to lead with purpose and inspire trust.
November 2024
Pioneers for Social Entrepreneurship Program Launched in Saudi Arabia
Synergos is pleased to partner with King Khalid Foundation and Majid Society on the recently launched Pioneers for Social Entrepreneurship program in Saudi Arabia. The initiative will build skills and connection for over 200 emerging and experienced social entrepreneurs pursuing lasting, local solutions to social and economic challenges. It will boost youth employment and advance social good through inclusion, compassion, and service.
November 2024
Video: Dialogo sobre políticas para resiliência e bem-estar dos profissionais de saúde
O Diálogo sobre Políticas para Resiliência e Bem-estar dos Profissionais de Saúde é uma iniciativa do Synergos Brasil, FGVsaúde e Johnson & Johnson. Juntos, mobilizamos um grupo multissetorial e elaboramos recomendações para melhorar condições de trabalho dos profissionais da saúde no Brasil. Assista ao lançamento do relatório final e descubra nossas propostas.
October 2024
GPC Member Profile: Cristiane Sultani
Moved by her discontentment with social inequality in Brazil and backed by her experience as an attorney and banker, Cristiane was courageous enough to jump into philanthropy without previous knowledge of the sector. “I was told by a friend not to do ‘more of the same’ of the work other Brazilian philanthropists were doing, but I didn’t even know what that was.”
September 2024
Synergos at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Rwanda
Chong-Lim Lee joined a panel discussion on joint efforts by governments and civil society to design and implement food systems at the country level. She addressed the importance of taking a systems perspective to improve food systems: “We must not lose sight that policies and institutions are powered by people.”
July 2024
GPC Member Profile: José Ignacio and Juan Pablo Ávalos
The Ávalos family is a trailblazer in Mexico's philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. Their initiatives addressing nutrition, economic empowerment, healthcare, and rural development stand out due to their business models designed for accountability to donors, investors, and beneficiaries alike.
June 2024
GPC Member Profile: Carolina Manhusen Schwab
Carolina Manhusen Schwab is a passionate champion for ocean restoration and social entrepreneurship worldwide. Her story is one of drive, dedication, and a strong belief in the power of people. She emphasizes that “we all have a role to play in protecting the ocean.”
April 2024
Government of Bangladesh takes over management of childcare centers
Synergos is proud to partner with the Bangladesh government, along with Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), BRAC Institute of Educational Development, RNLI and Bloomberg Philanthropies and others, for the government-led program establishing 8,000 integrated childcare centers across the country this year.
March 2024
GDI Dialogue in Action Database Launched
Dialogue in Action (www.dialogueinaction.net) is a global database and network of inspiring sustainable organizations, initiatives, projects and programs from around the world - those who actively promote dialogue, democratic politics, conflict resolution and combating modern-day slavery and aim to achieve their objectives through building connections and mutual trust, critical to achieve sustainable change.
March 2024
Mental Health Discussion with Young Philanthropists in Mumbai
Synergos hosted a panel for young philanthropists in Mumbai, India. The event emphasized crucial themes around mental health such as accessibility, affordability, and integration. Participants recognized that the current state of Indian philanthropy in this realm lacks scale, and measuring outcomes remains a challenge.
March 2024 2025
GPC Member Profile: Leena Dandekar - Climate resilience as a family legacy
Leena Dandekar is a pioneering figure in India’s impact investing landscape. She and her family have dedicated their capital, networks, and skills towards climate action, through the Raintree Family Office and the Raintree Foundation.
March 2024
Inner Transformation for Outer Change : 2024 Thailand Retreat Report
This immersion provided an experience for participants to engage deeply with their body, mind and spirit, and connect and build trusting relationships with one another. Together the group strengthened their wellbeing and inner work skills as they connected with nature and practiced breathwork and meditation.
January 2024
GPC Member Profile: Mayra Hernández González - Bridging tradition and innovation
“In philanthropy, we often focus on tangible aspects (…). However, my experiences have highlighted the pivotal role that inner work, our intentions, and our consciousness play in driving meaningful social change.”
2023
December 2023
Video: Peggy Dulany Reflects on a Visit to Ethiopia
Ethiopia is an agrarian nation, with about 3/4 of the population working in agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP. Following a recent trip to the county, Synergos’ Chair shares some observations about our work to improve government capacity to meet its goals on agriculture in ways that benefit smallholder farmers.
December 2023
Video: Meet Synergos’ New CEO, Camille Massey
Camille Massey, who joined Synergos as President and CEO in November, talks about her upbringing, why the world needs more trust and collaboration, and how Synergos is creating sustainable change around the world.
November 2023
GPC Member Profile: Jeff Walker - Joyful Philanthropy and Systemic Change
Jeff Walker is committed to making philanthropy a joyful endeavor: “If it’s not fun, let’s not do it.” The key to this resides in working together. He draws comparisons with music, highlighting the fulfillment of playing different instruments as a group and producing sounds a single musician would not be able to make on their own.
November 2023
Rising Leaders Report : Authentic Leadership Immersion Inner Transformation for Outer Change
The second Rising Leaders retreat - Authentic Leadership Immersion: Inner Transformation for Outer Change convened a group of 16 rising leaders, whose philanthropic and social impact interests and experience areas include regenerative agriculture, education, transforming philanthropy, entrepreneurship as tools for change, ecological and social transition, mental healthcare, and human rights.
July 2023
New book: Bridging Leadership Voices: Building trust for collective action
The Bridging Leadership Voices project assembles a unique chorus of voices of twenty-three practitioners from fourteen countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas who are innovating on a wide range of issues including corporate sustainability, philanthropy, agriculture, youth development, and more. We invite you to enter the project in a spirit of exploration.