TAI Weekly

TAI Weekly | Funding Justice in a Time of Crisis

By TAI (Role at TAI)
2019-Global-Philanthropy-Guide.jpg
TAI Weekly

Dear readers,

TAI will be at back-to-back convenings this week - one on the future of democracy and then the GovTech Forum hosted by the World Bank suggesting ways technology can enable public sector solutions. A new piece from Francis Fukuyama, Chris Dann and Beatriz Magaloni suggests a crucial link between the two - they argue that “service delivery and outcomes matter for the legitimacy and stability of democracy.” If technology can enable that better delivery? (We know it can also enable autocratic control.)

Lots more to cover in this Weekly from fisheries transparency to climate integrity to the impacts of aid cuts on civil society.

Happy reading!

TAI team

WHAT'S NEW?

In The Deadly Global Gold Rush, Sasha Lezhnev and John Prendergast explore the complex challenges facing global mining operations and their governance implications. 

How is Brazil tackling corruption by opening federal infrastructure contracts? Open Government Partnership demonstrate innovative approaches to transparency in public procurement and infrastructure development.

Are national diaspora leaning authoritarian? Analysis of voting patterns among the Romanian diaspora shows those in Western European countries supported the far-right candidate George Simion, while Eastern European diaspora voted for the moderate, pro-European candidate. Learn more of Romania's presidential election results and why Romanians abroad voted for Simion.

Ian Gary argues that pharmaceutical companies such as Merck & Co. should be more transparent about their tax practices and publish country-by-country reporting information on financial data. 

The Center for Economic and Social Rights emphasizes that the world's governments will have a rare chance to fix a broken debt system at the upcoming Fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development. They advocate for a UN-led convention process that prioritizes human rights, sustainability and long-term global stability. 

The International Center for Policy Advocacy guide for NGOs in Germany offers tested messaging strategies to foster positive conversations about NGO contributions while countering far-right conspiracy theories like the "Great Replacement."

Researchers have developed a holistic methodology for examining complex problems in energy transition solutions. They provide valuable tools for policymakers navigating the technical, social, and governance dimensions of climate action. 

Waging Nonviolence discusses why building inspiring alternatives is necessary to counter authoritarianism, highlighting seven ways communities are building a future worth embracing. Because resistance isn't only about saying no. 

The Republic of Liberia has taken a significant step towards enhancing fisheries governance by joining the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), turning to transparency and participation for more sustainable marine fisheries management. 

Blair Glencorse reports alarming new survey results on the impact of aid cuts. A third of organizations are at risk of closure. He notes: "It is imperative now that we find ways to collectively support each other and preserve the civic infrastructure we need to support inclusive, fair and open societies." 

In a growing wave of police repression, the El Salvador regime has revived a bill to tax donations to civil society groups, deployed Military Police to disperse demonstrators, and ordered detentions including Ruth López, legal director for human rights organization Cristosal. Read El Faro's analysis.

Simon Mundy notes how companies are claiming greener public positions than the lobbying demands of the industry groups they belong to. Are industry associations forcing a race to the bottom or is it a cynical ploy to claim false green credentials? 

Natalia Jidovanu examines how Ziarul de Garda defends truth and democracy in Moldova, and showcases innovative approaches to independent journalism in challenging environments. 

The World Bank has released a comprehensive knowledge report on Integrity in Climate Finance & Action, providing insights from last year’s symposium attended by TAI. 

ESSENTIAL READING

New WINGS report "Partnering for People Power: The Philanthropy Support Ecosystem for Social Movements in Africa and Latin America" provides comprehensive analysis of funding landscapes for social movements across these regions. (Read alongside TAI’s past reports on socio-environmental funds and on Southern funder intermediaries.)

FROM OUR MEMBERS

FORD, MACARTHUR AND OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS: Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey, and Open Society Foundations’ Chair Alex Soros are featured on the 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy list, honoring their influential leadership and contributions to the philanthropic sector.

HUMANITY UNITED: Has announced changes to its leadership structure to better respond to today’s global challenges and advance its vision of a more just and peaceful world. The organization remains deeply committed to its values, ongoing programs, and trusted partners.

HEWLETT FOUNDATION: Writing in Foreign Affairs, Economy and Society Initiative Director Jennifer Harris reflects on economic paradigms and what's next for capitalism as the neoliberal consensus breaks down.

MACARTHUR FOUNDATION: President John Palfrey addresses fundamental questions about what kind of country and world we want to live in, as long-held freedoms—the freedom to give, invest, and speak—come under question. Read his 2025 essay.

OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS: Alliance Magazine examines whether OSF's big strategic bet has paid off, and analyzes the foundation's major initiatives and their outcomes.

ESSENTIAL LISTENING

Accountability Lab podcast "Championing social justice: How can we defend press freedom?" features Cheri-Leigh Erasmus (Accountability Lab), Danai Nhando (Human Rights lawyer), and Nkosikhona Dibiti (journalist) discussing critical press freedom challenges.

TOOLS AND TRENDS FOR FUNDERS

New collaborative funding initiatives are championing the power of art to strengthen civic participation across Europe. 

Devex analysis underscores the critical need for philanthropy to get serious about scale and impact, examining how foundations can maximize their effectiveness in addressing complex global challenges.

Glen Galaich, CEO of the Stupski Foundation, discusses what Gates' plans mean for the debate over philanthropic perpetuity as the foundation signals its wind-down approach.

Proximate, in collaboration with Social Impact Commons, is launching a series to explore the present and future of fiscal sponsorship in the United States. As we mentioned in a previous Weekly, Proximate has offered guidance on how fiscal sponsors can help nonprofits survive political threats through eight preparatory steps.

FOCUSED TOPIC OF THE WEEK:

Philanthropy Responses Amid Aid Cuts, Economic Instability and Democratic Threats

2025 is testing philanthropy’s ability to respond to fast-changing circumstances, while also facing demands for more fundamental structural transformations. When social sector organizations face unexpected budget cuts and workforce reductions, traditional deliberative grantmaking processes risk becoming barriers rather than safeguards. 

The emergence of "good enough" due diligence and trust-based grantmaking reflects a critical recognition that during emergencies, the risk of delayed action often exceeds the risk of imperfect information. The "Meaningful Middle" of philanthropists finds itself uniquely positioned to bridge this gap, according to Geneva Global. This donors possess both resources and operational flexibility that enables rapid response when larger foundations face governance constraints and smaller donors lack capacity for substantial emergency funding.

Simultaneously, philanthropy undergoes a generational transition that fundamentally reshapes its power dynamics and resource distribution. Joe Berkowitz argues that the planned wind-down of the Gates Foundation and Warren Buffett's retirement signal the end of the era of centralized mega-giving where highly visible billionaire philanthropists drove major social change initiatives. This shift creates both democratizing opportunities for more diverse voices in philanthropic decision-making plus concerns about reduced overall giving capacity and coordination to meet large-scale challenges. 

The most acute threat facing US philanthropy emerges from the deteriorating democratic environment. Inside Philanthrophy explores how universities and nonprofits confront funding vulnerabilities as government agencies face ideological attacks and executive actions undermine established legal processes, forcing philanthropic leaders to navigate the tension between traditional nonprofit neutrality and the imperative to defend democratic norms explicitly.

Policy proposals threaten to harden these challenges through mechanisms that could fundamentally alter philanthropic operations and independence. The prospect of funding tax cuts through penalties on the charitable sector, combined with provisions allowing revocation of nonprofit tax-exempt status based on unverified allegations without judicial review, creates an environment of uncertainty that could chill philanthropic activity and advocacy. 

Nor is this limited to the US. In El Salvador, for example, the Parliament just passed a Foreign Agents Law, granting the Executive broad powers to investigate, register, and penalize organizations that receive international funding, including a 30% tax on all donations and payments received from foreign donors. Similarly in Hungary, Viktor Orbán's party has proposed legislation to clamp down on organizations that "threaten the sovereignty of Hungary by using foreign funding to influence public life." The bill, unironically titled "transparency in public life," is being compared to Russia's foreign agent law and is expected to have a similarly chilling effect on media and civil society.

This complex landscape demands collaboration within the philanthropic sector like never before. The decisions made by philanthropic leaders in this moment will determine the sector's capacity to support social progress and democratic governance for years to come.

JOBS

CALLS

  • Applications are now open for People Powered’s hands-on capacity-building support to organizations addressing public participation challenges. The programs offer tailored mentorship and accelerator programs to strengthen democratic practice implementation. 

  • Registration is open for Futures School Sandbox by Philea, a dynamic online training programme designed for junior, early, and mid-career philanthropy professionals. Deadline May 30, 2025.

  • The Spyware Accountability Initiative has released a Call for Concept Notes, seeking innovative approaches to combating surveillance technology misuse. Deadline June 13, 2025.

  • WINGS is accepting proposals for the 2025 Lift Up Philanthropy Fund, offering €350,000 for projects in philanthropy ecosystem building, regulatory advocacy, and multi-stakeholder SDG partnerships. Open to members in Africa, Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean. Apply by June 30, 2025.

  • Take the World Bank's Introduction to Public Expenditure & Financial Accountability course. Learn about the PEFA framework, which assesses a country's public financial management system. Complete the course and pass the final quiz to earn a certificate.

  • The 10th edition of the School for Thinktankers returns to Fundació Bofill in Barcelona in 2026. Submit your early-bird application.

 CALENDAR

We’d love to hear from you on how we can further improve TAI Weekly to better serve your needs in program management on the transparency, accountability, improved grantmaking and civic space. Please direct your feedback to [email protected] or

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