• The problem with the traditional notion of philanthropy, charity and the systems in wider society
• Philanthropy has a façade of doing good. Go back to its original meaning – love of humanity, not the notion of wealthy people giving to the poor.
• So much of our financial system is built on exploitation.
• Need to create a new way that is regenerative and fair for all. We are all interdependent.
• Current model of philanthropy is based on preservation of the status quo – its not addressing the root causes of issues, its not funding systems change
• It’s a cycle that preserves power for philanthropists and for very large charities/institutions
• Offsetting extractive business and investment behaviours
• There are different ways of doing things – love of human kind, taking more of a cultural approach than institutional, sharing risk and reward, not having the levels of hierarchy, with decisions by those who are affected
• Positive examples – if people don’t know where to start, there are now organisations with the specialist knowledge to distribute funds equitably and to support black and minoritized communities:
  • Black Feminist Fund – One of a kind funding focused explicitly on supporting Black feminist movements (global).
  • Project Tallawah – an emerging Black Feminist resourcing and community initiative based in the UK.
  • Dream Fund by Civic Square in Birmingham a couple of years ago
  • Resourcing Racial Justice – a coalition of people of colour (POC) innovators, change makers, activists, artists and social leaders dedicated to social change, who established a new UK wide-funding pool to support individuals and communities working towards racial justice.
  • Baobab Foundation – A new pro-Black foundation, resourcing racial justice through Black & Global Majority communities.
  • Imperative Fund (in the US)
  • Pathways Fund – a new initiative founded in 2022, aiming to catalyse opportunities for Black and Minoritised communities across England through social investment. Managed by Voice for Change. Donate.
• The identity crisis of philanthropy
• These new funders need to be given the space and resource to do things that the likes of Carnegie and Rockefeller had in their time
• Highlighting examples of organisations, movements, people who are creating social change and showing us how things can be done differently:
  • Yard – an arthouse in Ladywood, Birmingham, set up by MAIA to care for and resource the imaginations of local people and artists.
  • Healing Justice London – building towards a complete reimagining of our health systems — to emerge from a period of discovery, imagination, and collective growth together with ideas for a just and equitable system of community-centred health. Donate.
  • Project 507 – the transformation of systems that generate violence and perpetuate cycles of trauma, so that fewer people are harmed. Donate.
  • Free Black University – to support people in going beyond the known and ‘possible’ to activate the world changers and shapers of the future. Donate.
  • Contextual Safeguarding Network – research programme led by Dr Carlene Firmin at Durham University – an approach to understanding, and responding to, young people’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families.
  • Black Thrive – brings together individuals, local communities, statutory agencies and voluntary organisations to address the structural barriers that prevent Black people from thriving.
  • Liberating Knowledge – a knowledge and design consultancy making sense of the world by centring untapped & overlooked knowledge systems.
  • Civic Square – A bold approach to visioning, building and investing in civic infrastructure for neighbourhoods of the future.
  • Rekindle School – Aims to rekindle a love of education in the young people who attend the supplementary school in Manchester. Donate.
  • Power the Fight – Empowering communities to end youth violence. Donate.
• Liberatory visions – These organisations are setting an example of what a different society could look like
• What would it look like if we gave the philanthropic money available to organisations that are creating change that is regenerative and reflective of their communities – then we would start to see a shift in the systems that need to change
• Need to fund at scale for long periods, without restriction. Change doesn’t happen in 3 to 5 year funding cycles
• Need philanthropists to make big long-term bets and take risks to support social change
• What would Derek’s approach be to giving as a philanthropist? Give it to these people and organisations over as long a period as possible, without restriction, and let them work it out. They need the space, time and resources to take their ideas for conception to being mainstreamed or creating change in the system.
• Ten Years’ Time – philanthropy advice and education company, which helps ambitious donors and foundations to repair harm and rebalance power by resourcing racial and economic justice with care and confidence.
• Giving Back – critiquing philanthropy and offering solutions
• There are more organisations holding funders to account, for example:
  • 360 Giving
  • Civic Power Fund
  • Civil Society enquiry
  • Race Equity Index
• Recommended reading:
  • Giving Back, Do Good Better – Derek’s book, which highlights a number of the organisations and initiatives mentioned above
  • The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex
  • Books by Sir Hilary Beckles
  • The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule
  • Just Cause – the podcast Derek previously hosted which includes interviews with founders of some of the organisations above.

You can find Derek at Ten Years’ Time, on LinkedIn, or Twitter.

Derek’s latest book, ‘Giving Back, Do Good Better’, is available and some further information is below.

The book description is:

Do you wish you could do more to change the world but don’t know how? Do you ever look around at the many charities asking for donations and feel overwhelmed? This inspiring and uplifting book explores the effectiveness of charity and calls for more radical giving if we want to contribute to a better world.

During a period when British society seems more divided than ever, and our decision makers are even more disconnected from the issues that keep us awake at night, Giving Back highlights the people and movements taking on some of the most challenging social issues of our time.

A respected figure in philanthropy, Derek A. Bardowell presents a unique insight into what’s going on inside the world of giving and where we can best make a difference.

From redefining the role of charity itself to reimagining philanthropy through a reparative lens, Bardowell introduces a radical new take on how social problems, from climate change to racial injustice, can be tackled in modern society by all of us.

Filled with lively insights and moving stories, Giving Back is here to break down the walls of charitable giving. If you loved Factfulness, Lost Connections, and What White People Can Do Next, this book will challenge some of your truths and change the way you give.

Reviews include:

‘Personal, political, powerful.’ Bernardine Evaristo

‘Important and timely… Deeply felt and illuminating… Essential reading for everyone committed to fairness and equality in life.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘A valuable act of remembrance… While wealth may confer privileges, it doesn’t rid you of melanin or exempt you from prejudice.’ Colin Grant, Guardian

‘Bardowell does an excellent and passionate job of refracting the issues.’ Financial Times

‘I absolutely loved it!… Such a good read on so many levels.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars