Peter Thiel and Philanthropy in the End of Days
Peter Thiel’s recent Antichrist lectures raised many eyebrows. But is he just eccentric, or do his worldview and approach to philanthropy tell us something important about wider trends that might shape philanthropy in the future?
Is Elon Musk right that “empathy is the fundamental weakness of western civilization?”
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
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?
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
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?
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?
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
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
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?
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?
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
What lessons might the recent high-profile chaos at OpenAI hold for philanthropy and civil society?
