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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

Common Ground

Analysis

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

Imperial Valley’s New Endowment – and What It Represents

Grassroots Grantmaking

Q&A

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

How Fiscal Sponsors Can Help Nonprofits Survive Political Threats

Common Ground

Perspective

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

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

Field Note

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?

Common Ground

Analysis

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

Common Ground

Editorial

Introducing... Common Ground How can we advance fiscal sponsorship rooted in common infrastructure and collective care?Ben Wrobel

Unlocking Abundance

Analysis

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

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

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

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

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?

Q&A

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

Rethinking Resources

Perspective

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

Unlocking Abundance

Editorial

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

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

Column

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

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

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

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

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

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

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

Editor's Note

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

Editor's Note

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

Opinion

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

State of Rebuilding

Q&A

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

Q&A

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

Opinion

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

Field Note

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

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

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

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Field Note

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

Column

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

Deepening Philanthropy

Column

Deepening Philanthropy: What is Practice, Anyway?A new column for Proximate Brasil on regenerative philanthropic practices Joana Ribeiro Mortari

Repairing Development

Column

The Future of The Localisation Agenda Are we progressing or digressing? A new column by Vincent Mwangi Vincent Mwangi

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

New Data on the "Economics" of Localizing Aid Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

Conference Confidential: A weekend with Resource Generation Anna Patton investigated the rise of fiscal sponsors – both in the Global North and Global South – that are making it easier to donate across borders.Proximate

Deepening Philanthropy

Field Note

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

Representação fiscal: um caminho para a democratização dos fundos no Brasil?

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Analysis

Representação fiscal: um caminho para a democratização dos fundos no Brasil?Alguns enxergam a representação fiscal como uma forma de reduzir as barreiras para pequenas organizações e coletivos - até certo ponto.Joana Ribeiro Mortari

What's the Future of Fiscal Sponsorship in Brazil?

Deepening Philanthropy

Analysis

What's the Future of Fiscal Sponsorship in Brazil?Some see fiscal hosting as a way to reduce barriers for small organizations and collectives – up to a point Joana Ribeiro Mortari

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Editor's Note

Nota da Editora Sobre esse assunto Joana Ribeiro Mortari

Deepening Philanthropy

Editor's Note

Editor's Note We are entering a new era in how we practice philanthropy, people are embracing community philanthropy and trust-based philanthropy.Joana Ribeiro Mortari

Crossroads of Legacies: Experimenting with Flow Funding in Brazil

Deepening Philanthropy

Perspective

Crossroads of Legacies: Experimenting with Flow Funding in Brazil A donor and a flow funder share their views on philanthropy, autonomy and reparations Caroline Amanda and Camila Haddad

Encruzilhada de Legados: experimentando o Flow Funding no Brasil

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Q&A

Encruzilhada de Legados: experimentando o Flow Funding no Brasil Um doador e um flow funder compartilham suas visões sobre filantropia, autonomia e reparação Caroline Amanda e Camila Haddad

Arianne Shaffer sobre quatro anos de flow funding

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Q&A

Arianne Shaffer sobre quatro anos de flow funding O Kindle Project é líder em flow funding, incluindo sua recente grupo de mulheres indígenas Kevin McClendon e Ben Wrobel

Em conversa: o Jogo Oasis do Instituto Elos

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Q&A

Em conversa: o Jogo Oasis do Instituto Elos Falamos com Rodrigo Rubido sobre o que faz uma prática realmente participatória.Proximate

In Conversation: Instituto Elos’ Oasis Game

Deepening Philanthropy

Q&A

In Conversation: Instituto Elos’ Oasis Game We spoke with Rodrigo Rubido about what makes a practice truly participatory Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

Citizens Assemblies Meet Participatory Grantmaking A group decided how to spend $27 million of Marlene Engelhorn's fortune. We spoke with one of the project's leaders, days before it all kicked off.Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

Time for "empowerment philanthropy"? Our own Isabelle Clérié weighed in with her column, Want Effective Philanthropy? Look to the Global South.Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

New Resources on Participatory Philanthropy Porticus has been on a journey to explore participatory approaches in their work for a few years now. I've had a chance to peek at their internal decks. Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

A New Community of Practice I had the pleasure to speak recently with Maya Hasan, who is building out a new, global community of practice for the #ShiftThePower movement Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

Where Will the Money Come from?The news that Wellspring Philanthropy Fund is closing its doors by 2028 came as a shock to many in the human rights space.Proximate

Citizen Science

Analysis

What is the Role of Citizen Science in Conservation of Endangered Species?From grizzly bears to birds to bats, citizen science tools are helping scientists track and save species Fiona Garrity

Should Street Protesters Partner with Democracy Reformers? Extinction Rebellion Says Yes

State of Rebuilding

Analysis

Extinction Rebellion Is Calling for Citizens Assemblies. Here's Why.Citizens' assemblies are on the agenda for the political group Pamela Bailey

Parenting As a Blueprint for Participatory Work

Grassroots Grantmaking

Perspective

Parenting As a Blueprint for Participatory Work "Because I said so" is not an effective parenting strategy, and it fails as a philanthropic approach as well Rozella Kennedy

How I Lost My Respect Doing Community-Led Work

Grassroots Grantmaking

Perspective

How I Lost My Respect Doing Community-Led Work Jonathan Kifunda on the challenges of returning to his community from an international NGO Jonathan Kifunda

Reporting is Broken. It’s Time To Do a Hard Thing and Fix It.

Grassroots Grantmaking

Column

Reporting is Broken. It’s Time To Do a Hard Thing and Fix It.Oral reporting and other innovations can be better, fairer and easier on grantees Rachel Kimber

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

Let's all work together: A New Ecosystem Map I’m intrigued by the National Civic League’s effort to map the entities working to create a healthier democracy across my large and sprawling country.Proximate

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

Beware of ‘Participation-Washing’ An ever-present danger of deliberative democracy is that a government may host a citizens’ assembly or jury, and then ignore its recommendations.Proximate

Navigating Climate Week: A Guide to Events On Locally-Led Development

Editor's Note

Navigating Climate Week: A Guide to Events On Locally-Led Development Here's where you can find conversations on localizing climate solutions, from philanthropy to the grassroots Ben Wrobel

Not Waiting Around: The Foundations Transforming DAFs from Within

Unlocking Abundance

Analysis

Not Waiting Around: The Foundations Transforming DAFs from Within As foundations wait on federal DAF legislation, some are taking matters into their own hands and taking back control from donors Kaila Philo

Should Community Foundation DAFs Be Regulated Differently?

Unlocking Abundance

Q&A

Should Community Foundation DAFs Be Regulated Differently?Gerry Roll offers an alternative to the either-or dynamic around DAF reform – arguing that not all DAF sponsors are created equal Grace Chai

Grassroots Grantmaking

Patriotism is Participation The constant battle between individual versus collective leadership and decision-making Diana Samarasan and Catherine Hyde Townsend

State of Rebuilding

Editor's Note

Democracy Starts With How You Live Integrity starts with how we live our lives; so does democracy Pam Bailey

How We Gather

Perspective

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

The New Citizen Project: Seeing People as Citizens, not Consumers

State of Rebuilding

Q&A

Seeing People as Citizens, not Consumers Jon Alexander on how “circular power politics” could help politicians buy in to citizen participation Proximate

Zimbabwe NGO Helps the People Take Charge of Climate Resilience

State of Rebuilding

Perspective

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. Proximate

We Need a "Just Transition" for Democracy

State of Rebuilding

Perspective

We Need a ‘Just Transition’ from One Democracy to Many We need to move to a healthy ecosystem of diverse democracies Josh Lerner

Borderless Giving: Can Fiscal Hosts Get Money Moving to the Global Majority?

Common Ground

Analysis

Borderless Giving: Could Fiscal Hosts Get More Money Moving to the Global South?Fiscal sponsorship is increasingly seen as one solution to the challenges of localization Anna Patton

What Would It Look Like to Direct $6 Billion to Feminist Movements by 2026?

Rethinking Resources

Q&A

What Would It Look Like to Direct $6 Billion to Feminist Movements by 2026?Swatee Deepak on her recent report and the future of feminist philanthropy Analiese Deosaran

How One Central Uganda Community Spends Farming Profits Collectively

SoJo Series

Video

How One Central Uganda Community Spends Farming Profits Collectively Farmers in Kasasa are experimenting with a democratic model to invest profits from the sale of maize Solutions Now Africa

Beyond Feel-Good: Funding Faceless Impact

Grassroots Grantmaking

Perspective

Beyond Feel-Good: Funding Faceless Impact We need to invest time, resources, and knowledge in local leaders and communities to support them Margot Hinchey

Kenya’s Community Foundation Is Challenging the Dependency Mindset

Grassroots Grantmaking

Q&A

Kenya’s Community Foundation Is Challenging the Dependency Mindset A community-led approach to development Vincent Mwangi

Why We're Launching This Newsroom A new space to explore participatory problem-solving approaches across East Africa Vincent Mwangi

Summit Recap: A Conversation about DAF Reform in the Pacific Northwest

Unlocking Abundance

Summit Recap: A Conversation about DAF Reform in the Pacific Northwest Magic Cabinet and Proximate gathered philanthropy leaders in June to discuss paths to reform for donor-advised funds Proximate

Reimagining Philanthropy: The Power and Responsibility of Grants Managers

Grassroots Grantmaking

Column

The Power and Responsibility of Grants Managers Grants managers can harness positional power to drive meaningful change in the landscape of philanthropy Rachel Kimber

Behind the Donor Revolt for Charity Reform

Unlocking Abundance

Q&A

Behind the Donor Revolt for Charity Reform Bella DeVaan of the Charity Reform Initiative on the coalition's latest work Meg Massey

Want Effective Philanthropy? Look to the Global South

Repairing Development

Column

Want Effective Philanthropy? Look to the Global South The debate around a recent SSIR cover story misses the global perspective Isabelle Clérié

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

Citizen Participation Does Build Trust in Government So why don’t most European laws that address climate change integrate public participation?Proximate

State of Rebuilding

Field Note

Citizens’ Sssemblies Picking up Steam in UK Richard Wilson, of Iswe Foundation, predicts in The Guardian that in its first 100 days, the Labour government will announce a citizens’ assembly.Proximate

How Canada’s Foundation for Black Communities is Using Participatory Grantmaking

Grassroots Grantmaking

Q&A

How Canada’s Foundation for Black Communities is Using PGM The funder is investing $9 million to set an example for Canada’s philanthropic sector Sherlyn Assam

When Will the United States Start Taking Citizens’ Assemblies Seriously?

State of Rebuilding

Analysis

When Will the United States Start Taking Citizens’ Assemblies Seriously?Citizens’ assemblies are increasingly popular in Europe and Canada. But not in the United States. How come?Pam Bailey

State of Rebuilding

Editorial

Introducing… Beyond Elections What if democracy could be so much more than what we think it is?Pam Bailey

In Conflict Zones, Could Democracy Work Without Elections?

Rebuilding States

Q&A

In Conflict Zones, Could Democracy Work Without Elections?Iain Walker offers on the role of participatory democracy in areas without a working government – and why attempts to solve conflicts often fail Proximate

Introducing: Equity Overhaul by Rachel Kimber

Grassroots Grantmaking

Column

Introducing: Equity Overhaul by Rachel Kimber A new column by Rachel Kimber on the journey to shape equity in grants management Rachel Kimber

Repairing Development

Column

The Beautiful Curse: Who Owns Impact?Donors bring an investment mindset to development. That needs to change Isabelle Clérié

You Don’t Have to Choose One: Let’s Integrate Participatory Budgeting and Citizens’ Assemblies

State of Rebuilding

Perspective

Let’s Integrate Participatory Budgeting and Citizens’ Assemblies The two most important democratic innovations of the last 30 years have developed in parallel but not in unison Nick Vlahos

The Dalan Fund Has A Vision for Philanthropy in the Shadow of Authoritarianism

Grassroots Grantmaking

Feature

A Vision for Philanthropy in the Shadow of Russia The Dalan Fund is shifting power in grantmaking to Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central and North Asia Ben Wrobel

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

Melinda French Gates speaks about participation Yes, we read that op-ed. Melinda French Gates wrote about her vision to “play offense” on womens’ and reproductive rights.Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

Silencing proximate leaders on Palestine We made a roundup of news and updates on Palestine from the field of grassroots grantmaking Proximate

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note

Conference Confidential: Resistance in the air in Tbilisi I traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia for a gathering of the Human Rights Funders Network.Proximate

Humanqind's Vision: Children Co-Designing Safer Streets

State of Rebuilding

Q&A

Humanqind's Vision: Children Co-Designing Safer Streets Ruchi Varma has a vision for designing safer school zones that involves asking children as young as nine what they should look like Proximate

Proximate Samip; June 2024 Welcome to Proximate Samip समीप, a new project aimed at showcasing emergent models for participatory problem-solving across India.Proximate

What Loss & Damage Funders Can Learn from Scotland’s Prototype

Localizing Loss & Damage

Analysis

What the UN's Loss & Damage Fund Can Learn from Scotland’s Prototype Our series Loss & Damage explores what it would look like to localize climate funding Jessica Newfield

Depois da Ruptura da Barragem, Fundo Brumadinho está Repensando a Filantropia

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Q&A

Depois da ruptura da barragem, Fundo Brumadinho está repensando a filantropia Um fundo liderado pela comunidade tem um modelo baseado em confiança único para doações que pode ser um exemplo para o Rio Grande do Sul Joana Ribeiro Mortari

Diane Pereira Sousa’s Vision for Community Philanthropy in Brazil

Deepening Philanthropy

Q&A

Baixada Institute’s Model of Localized Philanthropy We spoke with the founder of Baixada Institute about the need to hold honest conversations between donors and communities Ben Wrobel

O campo filantrópico precisa confiar nos verdadeiros especialistas – as pessoas que são apoiadas por ele

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Perspective

O campo filantrópico precisa confiar nos verdadeiros especialistas A reação à filantropia baseada na confiança veio à tona. É hora de os líderes doadores de base comunitária responderem.Cynthia M. Gibson, Lisa Pilar Cowan, Jocelynne Rainey & Joana Ribeiro Mortari

The Canoes of Community Philanthropy in Brazil

Deepening Philanthropy

Perspective

The Canoes of Community Philanthropy in Brazil Canoes working together are better than boats with just one captain; so too with philanthropy Diane Pereira Sousa

What I learned from reading 175 participatory grantmaking resources

Grassroots Grantmaking

Perspective

From self-assessment tools to resources on how to do the inner work, there's a lot of help out there What I Learned from Reading 175 Participatory Grantmaking Resources Kelley Buhles

Participatory Investing: Nuts & Bolts

Field Note

5 Questions with Real People's Fund We spoke with Jessie Nguyen, from the REAL People’s Fund, on why solidarity between entrepreneurs and local organizers is necessary for democratizing capital.Proximate

Community Philanthropy: Money is Power, But Knowledge Is Power Too

Deepening Philanthropy

Q&A

The Rise of Community Philanthropy in Brazil An interview about community philanthropy with the leaders of Rede Comuá Tarisai Jangara

The Revolutionary Art of the Sex Worker’s Opera

SoJo Series

Feature

The Revolutionary Art of the Sex Worker’s Opera The opera grew from a community arts project into an international sellout show - and resisted opportunities to sell out along the way Chloe Marshall

Village Capital’s Model for Peer Due Diligence

SoJo Series

Q&A

Village Capital’s Model for Peer Due Diligence Deepak Menon on using a unique model to support social enterprises in India, from civic tech to climate innovation Kevin McClendon

Investindo Em Pessoas Que Transformam Realidades

Aprofundando a Filantropia

Perspective

Investindo em pessoas que transformam realidades Canoas trabalhando juntas são melhores do que um barco com apenas um capitão; assim também é a filantropia Diane Pereira Sousa

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.

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