Explore Our Articles

Check out our story archive and search for a specific article here

As Philanthropy Wavers on Palestine, Organizers Look Forward – and to Each Other

Grassroots Grantmaking

|

As Philanthropy Wavers on Palestine, Organizers Look Forward – and to Each Other In New York City, organizers reflect on the path forward as philanthropy withdraws under political pressure Neon Mashurov

Will Tech Startup Services Help – or Hurt – Fiscal Sponsorship?

|

Will Tech Startup Services Help – or Hurt – Fiscal Sponsorship?As fiscal sponsorship evolves, several tech startups promise to ease administrative burdens... but some say they cause more headaches Anna Patton

The Gates Foundation is Spending Down. Will Others Follow?

Grassroots Grantmaking

|

The Gates Foundation is Spending Down. Will Others Follow?We spoke with Glen Galaich on what Gates' plans mean for the debate over philanthropic perpetuity Ben Wrobel

What Funders Get Wrong About Girls and Young Feminists

Grassroots Grantmaking

|

What Funders Get Wrong About Girls and Young Feminists Two new reports from Our Collective Practice challenge funders to think about girls' organizing in a new way Proximate

É possível dizer que a filantropia expressa as chamadas características femininas?

Proximate Brasil

|

É possível dizer que a filantropia expressa as chamadas características femininas?A filantropia feminina está mudando o sistema - ou apenas a ótica? Um olhar fundamentado sobre gênero e doações Joana Ribeiro Mortari e Patricia Kunrath

Fiscally Sponsored for the Long Haul

|

Fiscally Sponsored for the Long Haul Why some fiscally sponsored projects choose not to spin out – and stick around for good Jennifer Krazit

Let's Build the Field of Philanthropic Advising: A Call to Action

Grassroots Grantmaking

|

Let's Build the Field of Philanthropic Advising Now more than ever, this disperse field needs coordination and collaboration. Let’s connect the dots.Chrissy Garton

Land, Power, and Collectivity: New Paths Within Philanthropy

Proximate Brasil

|

Land, Power, and Collectivity: New Paths Within Philanthropy How two pioneers in participatory land management are embracing collective decision-making Aline Khouri

We Can Do Public Meetings Better

|

We Can Do Public Meetings Better Disastrous town hall meetings are becoming a familiar part of the American fabric. It doesn’t have to be that way Susan Charland

A New Lifeline for Nonprofits and Movements: Why It's Time to Consider the PBC model

Rethinking Resources

|

A New Lifeline for Nonprofits and Movements: Why It's Time to Consider the PBC model With social impact organizations under attack, the Public Benefit Corporation route has never been timelier Michael Gilligan

Como o Fundo Casa direciona recursos para as organizações de base no Brasil

Proximate Brasil

|

Como o Fundo Casa direciona recursos para as organizações de base no Brasil Maria Amália Souza está tentando mudar a forma como o dinheiro flui para proteger a Amazônia Ben Wrobel

Resumo de Relatórios: Proximate Brasil

Proximate Brasil

|

Resumo de Relatórios: Proximate Brasil Lemos vários relatórios sobre a mudança de poder na filantropia e selecionamos os destaques Proximate

Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil

Proximate Brasil

|

Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil We read several recent reports on shifting power in philanthropy – and pulled out the highlights Proximate

Filantropia na blockchain

Aprofundando a Filantropia

|

Filantropia na blockchain A fundadora da Grapevine fala sobre como os DAOs e os círculos de doação se cruzam cada vez mais Emily Rasmussen (tradução e reflexão final: Joana Mortari)

'Ensuring that the Community Endures'

Proximate Brasil

|

'Ensuring that the Community Endures'Challenges and opportunities for territorial philanthropy and Buen Vivir Renata Saavedra

Terra, Poder e Coletividade: novos caminhos dentro da filantropia

Proximate Brasil

|

Terra, Poder e Coletividade: novos caminhos dentro da filantropia Como dois pioneiros em gestão participativa da terra estão adotando processos de decisão coletiva Aline Khouri

The Protagonism of Black Women in the Third Sector: Invisibility and Recognition

Proximate Brasil

|

The Protagonism of Black Women in the Third Sector Most black women in Brazil’s grassroots and territorial organizations work informally – reinforcing inequalities Luana Batista

'Garantir que a comunidade permaneça'

Proximate Brasil

|

'Garantir que a comunidade permaneça'Desafios e oportunidades para uma filantropia territorial e pelo bem viver Renata Saavedra

East Africa Connect: Advancing Collaboration for Impact

|

Proximate In Person

East Africa Connect Advancing Collaboration for Impact The launch of the Opportunity Collaboration East Africa Chapter Vincent Mwangi

How Fiscal Sponsors Can Help Nonprofits Survive Political Threats

|

How Fiscal Sponsors Can Help Nonprofits Survive Political Threats Take these eight steps today to prepare new structures of support Thaddeus Squire

Is it possible to say that philanthropy expresses so-called feminine characteristics?

Proximate Brasil

|

Is it possible to say that philanthropy expresses so-called feminine characteristics?Is feminine philanthropy changing the system—or just the optics? A grounded look at gender and giving Joana Ribeiro Mortari and Patrícia Kunrath Silva

How the Casa Fund Drives Resources to Brazil’s Grassroots

Aprofundando a Filantropia

|

How the Casa Fund Drives Resources to Brazil’s Grassroots Maria Amália Souza is trying to rewire how money flows to protect the Amazon Proximate

Inside a Peer-Governed Fiscal Sponsor

|

Inside a Peer-Governed Fiscal Sponsor Movement Sustainability Commons and other sponsors are starting to involve grassroots leaders in budgeting, hiring, and strategy decisions Natalie Blackmur

O Protagonismo das Mulheres Negras no Terceiro Setor: Invisibilidade e Reconhecimento

Proximate Brasil

|

O Protagonismo das Mulheres Negras no Terceiro Setor Mulheres negras atuam como voluntárias em bases locais, sem remuneração, o que reforça desigualdades já naturalizadas.Luana Batista

Imperial Valley’s New Endowment – and What It Represents

|

Imperial Valley’s New Endowment – and What It Represents Why one California foundation chose to shift assets — not just grants — to a more proximate foundation Proximate

Half Her DAF: A Conversation with Jen Risher

Unlocking Abundance

|

Half Her DAF: A Conversation with Jen Risher The co-founder of #HalfMyDAF talks about wealth, money stories, and what’s next for DAF reform Meg Massey

A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking

Grassroots Grantmaking

|

A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking Twelve research papers shine a light on participatory models and approaches Ben Wrobel

What the Heck is Fiscal Sponsorship, Anyway?

|

What the Heck is Fiscal Sponsorship, Anyway?An overview of the sometimes-misunderstood concept Social Impact Commons

Introducing... Common Ground: The Future of Fiscal Sponsorship

|

Introducing... Common Ground Unpacking the overlooked engine behind movements, mutual aid and frontline leadership Ben Wrobel

A people's climate policy agenda emerges in Zimbabwe

Beyond Elections

|

Zimbabwe NGO Helps the People Take Charge of Climate Resilience Zimbabwe’s climate strategy isn't responsive to rural communities; Green Institute engaged citizens to change that. Ben Wrobel

How Can States Push for DAF Reform?

Unlocking Abundance

|

How Can States Push for DAF Reform?With federal reform stalled, state attorneys general can still act on DAF transparency Kendra Hurley

Beyond Elections

|

Participatory democracy isn’t just for governments NGO People Powered demonstrates how member-based organizations can use participatory democracy to determine how to allocate its budget.Proximate

Beyond Elections

|

We need a common vocabulary for participation What does make public participation in government decision-making meaningful? Proximate

How do you grow a culture of democracy from scratch?

Beyond Elections

|

How do you grow a culture of democracy from scratch?Marr Nyang founded Gambia Participates in a country just emerging from a decades-long dictatorship Pam Bailey

When Trust-Busting Leads to Trust Building

|

When Trust-Busting Leads to Trust Building The story of how I discovered my trust fund — and had to fight to give it away Susanna Penfield

Introducing... Unlocking Abundance

Unlocking Abundance

|

Introducing... Unlocking Abundance An editorial series exploring the future of DAF reform in the United States Proximate

Five Questions for John Hecklinger

Grassroots Grantmaking

|

Five Questions for John Hecklinger We spoke with the Global Fund for Children’s co-CEO about participatory grantmaking and more Proximate

Out of Tune and Out of Time! The Harmful Stereotypes of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’

Repairing Development

|

Out of Tune and Out of Time! The Harmful Stereotypes of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’The song reflects a past era of development that led to decades of error Vincent Mwangi

Beyond Elections

|

Who’s Defining Participation?Maybe we need to focus on the social and political context in which the idea and practice of participation emerges.Proximate

Beyond Elections

|

The Ultimate in Participatory Democracy is People Governing Themselves The concept of people governing themselves is beginning to take root in an exciting way in Myanmar Proximate

Beyond Elections

|

Field Note: ‘Nation states’ are no longer the engines of progress Democracy is not in decline. The nation-state is.Proximate

From the Editor: Reflecting on Proximate's First Year

|

From the Editor: Reflecting on Proximate's First Year It's been a busy year – and we're excited for what's to come Ben Wrobel

Proximate's Most Popular: Our Most-Read Stories from 2024

|

Proximate's Most Popular: Our Most-Read Stories from 2024 Here are the stories that generated the most reads and the most conversation this past year Proximate

Resourcing Feminist Movements: Provocations for the Future

Rethinking Resources

|

Resourcing Feminist Movements: Provocations for the Future Where will the money come from for feminist organizing? We need to look to the global majority Angelika Arutyunova, Amina Doherty, and Leila Hessini

Violence is a Community Problem That Must Be Solved by the Community

Beyond Elections

|

Violence is a Community Problem that Must be Solved by the Community Residents in Yumbo, Colombia, brainstorm solutions to urban violence Pam Bailey

Crisis Response: The Timely Mandate of the Global Resilience Fund

Rethinking Resources

|

Crisis Response: The Timely Mandate of the Global Resilience Fund We spoke with Laura Vergara and Ruby Johnson about their work to fund girls and young feminists on the frontlines Proximate

How to Fund the Girls You Want to Run the World

Rethinking Resources

|

How to Fund the Girls You Want to Run the World Young people are changing the world. Trust them with resources.Angelika Arutyunova and Lariza Fonseca

Grassroots Grantmaking

|

A New Book on Participatory Grantmaking There’s a new book called Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy coming out in 2025.Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

|

RWJF Reflects on Participatory Philanthropy The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the latest major foundation to experiment with PGM and they released a case study of their pilot phase.Proximate

Resumo de Relatórios: Doações de base no Brasil

Proximate Brasil

|

Resumo de relatórios: Doações de base no Brasil Lemos vários relatórios sobre a mudança de poder na filantropia e selecionamos os destaques Proximate

Aprofundando a Filantropia: o que queremos dizer com prática?

Proximate Brasil

|

Aprofundando a Filantropia: o que queremos dizer com prática?Uma nova coluna para o Proximate Brasil sobre filantrópicas contemporâneas Joana Ribeiro Mortari

Proximate is an independent media platform covering movements for participatory problem-solving. We look at the news through the lens of money: how it’s given away, how it’s invested, and how it’s distributed by government.
We are a fiscally sponsored project of Movement Strategy Center.

Get Our Monthly Issues

Proximate

© 2025 PROXIMATE ® ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.