When people ask me about philanthropy, here is what I usually say: If we are lucky enough to live financially comfortable lives, we should be sharing some of our wealth. And, we should be giving in proportion to what we have. Additionally, our giving should help address the injustices that enabled our wealth. In recent…
Continue reading →I recently realised that I have been quietly blogging for twelve years. So here are a few of my most popular and relevant posts. Some useful tools: We’ve all been in meetings where someone won’t shut up. Equity of voice and why it matters (3 minute read) is still a popular blog years later, and…
Continue reading →Last year I signed this Open Letter on Tax, calling for wealthy people to be taxed more. But this year, instead of paying more tax, rich and middle income people will be paying less. For me, my tax cut will buy me four or five loaves of bread per week. I don’t want or need…
Continue reading →If we are donating money, whether it is $5 or $5 million, whether as individuals or foundations, we all need to answer the same, deceptively simple question. Which is this: “where should we give our money?” Common responses include funding causes which have affected us personally, funding on an ad hoc basis to those who…
Continue reading →Here are some reflections prompted by the Philanthropy NZ conference earlier this month: 1. Positive change is normal and happens all the time: When I was growing up, way back in the 1970s, these things were true: Smoking was everywhere, even in planes and restaurants. Children were regularly smacked, strapped and caned in homes and…
Continue reading →Giving is good – but there is a darker side to fundraising and philanthropy which it is useful to be aware of. Examples include organisations soliciting funds for questionable purposes, and donors, businesses or funding organisations using their money to influence democracy in ways which are unethical and/or untransparent. Unfortunately, according to this excellent Radio…
Continue reading →Christmas has come and gone again. Ah, Christmas. It’s when we express our love of others through the giving of gifts, right? No – wait – isn’t Christmas just a commercial thing, where we buy stuff which usually isn’t what the other person actually wants? Hmmm – it’s a tricky thing Christmas. Now, reread the…
Continue reading →How do we, as funders, better engage with and support Māori communities? What does it mean for a funder to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi? And what is our role in building an Aotearoa of tomorrow where Te Ao Pākehā (the Pākehā world) and Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) work in synergy for the…
Continue reading →Here are two uncomfortable power dynamics in philanthropy: Funding processes can be a kind of “Nonprofit Hunger Games” where frontline community organisations compete against each for favour and “the win.” The power to decide who wins usually sits squarely with funders, yet funders are rarely directly affected by key social issues. It doesn’t have to…
Continue reading →If you are involved in philanthropy in Aotearoa NZ and you haven’t yet registered for the fabulous biennial Philanthropy NZ Summit, May 18 – 20, there’s still time to do so. Here’s a very short movie I did for PNZ explaining why I think this is such a great conference. I will be there and…
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