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Beyond Feel-Good: Funding Faceless Impact

Proximate East Africa

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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

Homegrown Horizons

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

Introducing Proximate East Africa

Proximate East Africa

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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

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Proximate In Person

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

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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

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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

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

Beyond Elections

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

Beyond Elections

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Citizens’ Assemblies 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

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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

Why is the US late to the table on citizens’ assemblies?

State of Assembly

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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

Introducing… Beyond Elections

Beyond Elections

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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?

From Protest to Participation

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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

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

The Beautiful Curse: Who Owns Impact?

Repairing Development

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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 Assembly

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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

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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

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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

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

Grassroots Grantmaking

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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

Beyond Elections

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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

Proximate Samip

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

Proximate Investing Newsletter May 2025 Winter

Proximate Investing

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Winter Newsletter: Love Resistance, and Community Capital Sonia Sarkar

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

Repairing Development

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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

Proximate Brasil

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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

Proximate Brasil

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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

Proximate Brasil

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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

Proximate Brasil

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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

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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

Five Questions for Real People's Fund

Proximate Investing

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Five Questions for Real People's Fund We spoke with Jessie Nguyen, from the REAL People’s Fund, on why solidarity is necessary for democratizing capital Sonia Sarkar

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

Proximate Brasil

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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

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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

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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

Proximate Brasil

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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

Nossa visão para a Proximate Brasil

Proximate Brasil

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Nossa visão para a Proximate Brasil Uma investigação sobre a abordagem participativa ao buscar soluções para desafios do Brasil, por brasileiros Joana Ribeiro Mortari

After the Dam Broke, Fundo Brumadinho Is Rethinking Philanthropy

Proximate Brasil

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After the Dam Broke, Fundo Brumadinho Is Rethinking Philanthropy A community-led fund has a unique, trust-based model for distributing grants can be an example for Rio Grande do Sul Joana Ribeiro Mortari

The Story of the Half-Built Road

Repairing Development

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The Story of the Half-Built Road Three lessons from a human-based approach to development Isabelle Clérié

Marlene Engelhorn is paying 50 strangers to give away her fortune – here's how it works

Grassroots Grantmaking

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Marlene Engelhorn is paying 50 strangers to give away her fortune Guter Rat is an experiment that merges participatory grantmaking and citizens assemblies Proximate

Five Memorable Recent Films by Sex Workers

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Five Memorable Films by Sex Workers Grab some popcorn and check out these films that screened at Whorehouse Cinema and the Red Umbrella Film Festival Chloe Marshall

Musical Theatre as Artistic Activism

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Musical Theatre as Artistic Activism An excerpt from Dr. Imogen Flower's academic study of the Sex Worker's Opera Imogen Flower

What Does It Take for Government to Reform Philanthropy? Yonis Hassan Found Out

Grassroots Grantmaking

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What Does It Take for Government to Reform Philanthropy? Yonis Hassan Found Out Justice Fund Toronto pushed a law that's forcing Canadian millionaires to give away more of their money Kevin McClendon

Are Young Philanthropists Driving Participatory Philanthropy?

Grassroots Grantmaking

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The Young Donors Driving Participatory Philanthropy With $68 trillion on the line, young donors at Resource Generation and elsewhere are pushing grassroots models Abigail Higgins and Ben Wrobel

The Youth Climate Justice Fund Is Building Power for Young Leaders in the Global South

Grassroots Grantmaking

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The Youth Climate Justice Fund Is Building Power for Young Leaders in the Global South Forty grantees have been chosen through a unique participatory process Ben Wrobel

Justice Funds is Bridging the Information Gap for Global South Activists

Rethinking Resources

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Justice Funds is Bridging the Information Gap for Global South Activists Paz Romero and Julia Chacur on the importance of sharing global grant opportunities Proximate

Beyond Letting Go: Recentering Grassroots Leaders

Grassroots Grantmaking

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Beyond Letting Go: Recentering Grassroots Leaders This double issue takes two approaches to the question of how to shift power to the grassroots Ben Wrobel and Meg Massey

Philanthropy Needs to Trust the Real Experts — The People It Supports

Grassroots Grantmaking

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Philanthropy Needs to Trust the Real Experts — The People It Supports Backlash to trust-based philanthropy has come out into the open; it's time for grassroots grantmaking leaders to respond Cynthia M. Gibson, Lisa Pilar Cowan & Jocelynne Rainey

Is This Community Philanthropy’s Moment?

Community Philanthropy

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Is This Community Philanthropy’s Moment?The second Shift The Power Summit gave voice to the community philanthropy movement. Will donors listen?Ledys Sanjuan Mejía

Introducing: Repairing Development by Isabelle Clérié

Repairing Development

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Introducing: Repairing Development by Isabelle Clérié A new column for Proximate on community philanthropy and asset-based community development Isabelle Clérié

What's Next for the Decolonizing Wealth Project?

Grassroots Grantmaking

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What's Next for the Decolonizing Wealth Project?We spoke with Amber Banks about DWP's participatory model and their work in the Global South Proximate

Building Food Sovereignty: Collaborative Efforts for Cultural and Environmental Resilience

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Proximate In Person

Building Food Sovereignty: Collaborative Efforts for Cultural and Environmental Resilience Climate leaders in SF and Detroit are cultivating their own sustainable food systems Kevin McClendon

Four Pieces of Advice for Participatory Grantmakers In Aotearoa New Zealand

Grassroots Grantmaking

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Four PIeces of Advice for Participatory Grantmakers In Aotearoa New Zealand Be prepared to bend your own rules – and be prepared for transformation Lani Evans and Christina Howard

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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