Rethinking Philanthropy for Social Change

The thinking behind philanthropy and solutions programs has been: “Define a problem, design a solution, and measure its impact.” Then create a framework, and replicate across many other areas. Time and again, it doesn’t work, and doesn’t last. Global youth-led efforts are focusing instead on investing in community-led creativity and solutions. For instance, a youth innovation fund in Colombia is a “way for us to invest in one another’s ideas, to show that our creativity and solutions matter.” It’s time for philanthropy to rethink its role. “Instead of designing and deploying solutions, it must become a facilitator of connection.” “It means stepping back from the comfort of frameworks and into the uncertainty of human relationships. It means seeing communities not as beneficiaries but as collaborators. And it means understanding that the best solutions are co-created, not prescribed.”

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