By Jana Stardelova, Grants and Engagement Manager at Ariadne
“Our ancestors understood the importance of thinking seven generations ahead. The future we build today must be sustainable, equitable, and rooted in the wisdom of our past.” – Winona LaDuke, Anishinaabe activist and environmentalist.
When we look for the seeds of the future we want to create, we need only think back to the early days of the pandemic three years ago, when philanthropy took a drastic step forward, centring flexible funding as an approach and responding to and supporting emerging civil society needs.
If there is anything we have learned from the past years and multiple protracted crises, it’s that going forward we need shared narratives with common direction and whole-of-society responses. Philanthropy can play a key role in this approach and must contribute to creating an enabling environment with a future mindset that is intersectional. Ariadne’s ‘2033’ annual member meeting was dedicated to the signals, challenges, and visions for how philanthropy should show up now, in 2023, to create a world where creating a vision of the future is not reserved only for the privileged.
Together with Kumquat, and informed by members, Ariadne aimed to create an environment to support funders in thinking about the future in all its multiplicities and possibilities. Over three days, 100 funders joined to discuss ideas and approaches that inspire and resonate. Working together, funders identified themes and priority areas, some of which were: open civic space, enabling and securing climate justice, giving agency to grassroots groups, inclusive democracy, regenerative economy, and shifting power. Below we share the signals, opportunities, and visions that emerged during the three-day convening.
Applying a future mindset to grantmaking
Applying a future mindset to grantmaking involves embracing strategies that adapt to the evolving needs and challenges of civil society and the nonprofit sector. During Ariadne’s convening, it was clear that there are a couple of approaches that the philanthropic sector is taking now and will continue in the future. One such approach is flexible, multiyear funding. Recognising that long-term impact often requires sustained support, grantmakers are increasingly shifting away from project-based, short-term funding cycles. Instead, they are providing multiyear grants that offer stability and enable nonprofits to plan and implement their initiatives more effectively. This approach, outlined in more detail by the Funding for Real Change project, fosters a sense of partnership and allows organisations to focus on their mission rather than constantly chasing funding opportunities. It also recognises that organisations are best positioned to identify and address the pressing challenges within their respective fields. Core grants empower nonprofits to experiment, innovate, and adapt to changing circumstances, ultimately enhancing their ability to create sustainable, long-term impact.
By adopting forward-thinking strategies, grantmakers are embracing a future mindset in their approach. During Ariadne’s convening we felt the questioning of old methods that still linger and no longer serve the purpose or even stand in the way of our collective future vision. Going forward, sustained support, operational effectiveness, and grantees’ organisational autonomy were recognised as key. Through multiyear flexible funding and the provision of core grants, grantmakers are fostering an environment that empowers nonprofits to thrive and make a lasting difference in the communities they serve. These funding approaches can allow grantees to shape multiple futures and create transformative social change.
Shaping the future of philanthropy
During the convening participants reflected on the urgency of many of the issues facing them: undertaking racial justice and decolonising processes, embedding climate justice in their modus operandi, and centring solidarity with civil society are key priorities for funders. However, in discussing future visions, there was also understanding and recognition that there is no one future, but multiple futures in which people can thrive.
Shaping the future of philanthropy requires funders to embrace creative and unconventional approaches that challenge traditional norms, seek innovative solutions to societal issues and address unique challenges and opportunities. During Ariadne’s convening, we had the opportunity to hear about different approaches and solutions that may become more common in the future. For example, participatory grantmaking has been gaining traction as a progressive approach to philanthropy that centres the voices and perspectives of the communities and individuals affected by philanthropic decisions in the grantmaking process. By involving the beneficiaries directly, funders gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities on the ground and can co-create solutions that are more responsive and effective. This approach fosters inclusivity, empowerment, and accountability, ultimately leading to more impactful and sustainable outcomes.
Shaping the future of philanthropy requires funders to think outside the box and explore unconventional approaches. Examples such as participatory grantmaking showcase the potential for innovation and collaboration in the philanthropic sector. By embracing these creative strategies, funders can drive meaningful change, address complex social issues, and build a future where philanthropy plays a central role in creating a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world.
Jana Stardelova joined Ariadne in April 2022 as the Grants and Engagement Manager. She is a migration and gender expert with more than 10 years of experience in the international humanitarian, as well as NGO sectors. She has worked in diverse humanitarian settings, in this context, she has supported program development, developed emergency field response, and conducted research on migration management, human trafficking, gender equality, and human rights issues. She is one of the co-founders of the NGO Tiiiit! Inc., which is based in Skopje, North Macedonia that works on improving women’s rights through art and culture.
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