Is Elon Musk right that “empathy is the fundamental weakness of western civilization?”
28th March 2025
We explore Elon Musk’s recent claim that “empathy is the fundamental weakness of Western civilisation” – what does it mean, where does it come from, and is there is any truth in it?
Philanthropy at a Time of Chaos
10th February 2025
Following a barrage of executive orders and policy announcements from President Donald Trump which posed major challenges for civil society organisations, we take a look at some of the key questions for philanthropy at a time of chaos.
Philanthropy & Civil Society in a Post-Work Future?
18th October 2024
In this article, we consider what role philanthropy and civil society might play in a “post work” future where AI and automation has fundamentally altered our society and economic models.
A Good Game: Sport, Philanthropy & Activism
2nd July 2024
What is the relationship between philanthropy and sport? Are athletes and sports teams primarily recipients of philanthropy, are they potential donors, or are they powerful activists?
Why Isn’t All Philanthropy Trust-Based Philanthropy?
13th June 2024
We explore why “trust-based philanthropy” has gained ground as an idea, what it is framed as an alternative to, and why there is still a gap between rhetoric and practice.
Is “Purpose” Always a Good Thing?
10th May 2024
As the range of organisations claiming to have a social purpose widens, we explore some of the potential challenges and unintended consequences.
Philanthropy and the Quest for Eternal Life
7th March 2024
What impact might the growing interest in radical life extension technology among the ultra-wealthy have on philanthropy?
The History of Social Justice Philanthropy in the UK
7th February 2024
To mark the publication of Fozia Irfan’s report Transformative Philanthropy: A Manual for Social Change, we take a look at the history of philanthropy aimed at social justice in the UK.
What Will 2024 Bring for Philanthropy and Civil Society?
14th December 2023
We explore some of the key ideas in the recent “2024 predictions” episode of the Philanthropisms podcast.
If you want to listen to that in full, you can find part 1 HERE and part 2 HERE.
GUEST ARTICLE: Fears for Tears – Why Are We So Afraid to Allow Emotion Into Philanthropy?
27th November 2023
In this guest article Natasha Friend, Director of Camden Giving – a London-based participatory grantmaker – asks why we have become so uncomfortable allowing emotion into professionalised philanthropy, and whether something is lost as a result.
OpenAI and the Challenges of Combining Profit With Purpose
23rd November 2023
What lessons might the recent high-profile chaos at OpenAI hold for philanthropy and civil society?
What’s The Point of Philanthropic Foundations? Part 3: Current Issues
14th November 2023
This is the third and final part of an essay mini-series exploring the nature and role of philanthropic foundations. Here we consider some of the key themes that have emerged throughout the long history of critique and criticisms of foundations, and how these might inform our understanding of current debates.
