Philanthropists and foundations
The challenge
In a context which governments are unable or unwilling to fullfil their duties, philanthropy is increasingly the only life-line for those in need and the only remaining actor that catalyse action to address the polycrisis affecting people and the planet. Faced with such wicked external challenges, newly established family foundations or foundations reorienting their portfolios face common obstacles:
Defining a clear mission, vision and strategy which reflects values, systemic ambition
Building a diverse, impactful, adaptative and realistic portfolio of projects in line with the size of a foundation’s endowment, best practices in terms of learning&collaboration, within a constantly shifting external environment
Aligning governance, teams, systems, and partnerships to the strategy to minimize costs and maximize impact
Contribute to build a healthier philanthropic ecosystem
Our Services
We collaborate with philanthropists and foundations to co-create strategies and practices that maximise their contribution to systemic transformation.
Our services include:
Visioning & strategy: support in defining mission, vision, and long-term strategies
Strategic foresight: scenario building and anticipation of emerging challenges
Portfolio development: design and diversification of grantmaking portfolios
Governance & structures: guidance on governance models and operational set-up
Due diligence & project design: identifying promising initiatives and shaping impactful interventions
Partnership-building: connecting with civil society, policy actors, and peers to leverage collective power
Impact frameworks: building theory of change, developing tailored evaluation methods, and embedding learning
Our Added Value
We bring together an international network of consultant practitioners who combine expertise with agility.
Practitioners of change: experienced in shaping and implementing successful transformative strategies
Diverse thematic knowledge: across environment, development, peace and democracy
Multi-level experience: from grassroots to EU and international policy arenas
Tailored approach: solutions adapted to the donor’s context, values, and ambitions
Efficient & agile: more relevant, rapid, and cost-effective – with a view to reduce overheads of managed philanthropic portfolios
Together, we help funders move beyond transactional grantmaking towards catalytic philanthropy – shaping innovative, inclusive frameworks and building meaningful partnerships for lasting systemic change.
