Philanthropy as Development
Rob Garris, Managing Director for Bellagio Programs at the Rockefeller Foundation, tells us more about the upcoming forum and introduces some of the main topics that will be discussed in Bellagio later this month:
"Last November at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, Awkasi Aidoo of Trust Africa encouraged us not to think about doing philanthropy for development, but instead to think of “philanthropy as development.” His comment carried a lot of meaning: philanthropy should be embedded in emerging economies and build on local traditions of giving and mutuality so that new wealth is shared, and shared wisely. Philanthropy should seek to solve underlying causes of poverty. Philanthropy should, as John D. Rockefeller suggested in 1913, improve human well-being around the world.
The diverse participants from philanthropy and development at last year’s summit shared broad goals and values, but have different ways of working and different understandings, sometimes, of the worlds in which we work. We are excited to partner with Resource Alliance to continue this conversation, again at the Bellagio Center, just a few weeks from now.
Last year, we asked an experienced group how to improve human well-being through collaboration and cross-learning between philanthropy and development. This year we have invited a group of new philanthropists, primarily from Africa and Asia, to work through some of the themes that emerged last year from the perspective of their own work. On the table for discussion: how to balance risk and opportunity to maximize results; how to build trust with partners;, and how to spot and build on community-based innovations? I also expect we’ll generate new questions and hopefully offer a few answers, too.
We hope that our guests will teach and learn from each other, and sharpen our thinking on these issues. We’ll share with you here and on Twitter what we learn as the discussions unfold. Stay tuned!"
