Power and the Role of Philanthropy

Power and the Role of Philanthropy: 24 November 2020: 13.00 - 15.30 UTC - Online Plenary - Open to all

WINGS member workshops: December 1, 2, 7, 8.

For far too long, power has existed within a top-down paradigm. Now, we see shifts towards more distributed models that root agency in individuals and groups of changemakers. In the wake of COVID 19, governments have exercised an increased use of central power while communities are illustrating the incredible potential of resilient organizations and local action. As we confront the long-term impact of the current crisis on the power distribution in society, we must seize the opportunity this crisis creates. We must rethink the way power is leveraged and distributed, first within the philanthropic sector, then with other actors of social change. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to explore the limited adaptations in power distribution, the alternative and innovative ways to shift power dynamics and harness unrecognized power for social justice and the greater good.

Join us to explore how the philanthropic field needs to address and transform imbalanced power dynamics within the sector and beyond, many of which continue to be impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Hear from a panel of thought leaders on how power plays out in the philanthropic and nonprofit world, and what the strategies and practices are that can begin to shift these dynamics.

The open-access plenary session will be followed by exclusive workshops for WINGS members. These will have up to 10 participants from across the WINGS network. There will be workshops covering both Eastern and Western time zones.

Objectives:

• Explore practical steps that can be taken to redress power imbalances in their work and relationships, at the society, organization and individual level.
• Question how the impact of the pandemic might further entrench uneven power dynamics, and what steps can be taken by those working in philanthropy to mitigate this.
• Examine the notion of ‘new’ power that leverages technology and new ways to organize social movements
• Highlight the importance of protecting the agency of communities in new forms of working and new methods for philanthropy.

WINGS member workshops - register here.

Join a small group of peers to take the key messages of the plenary session and dive deeper into exploring your own role, and that of your organization, in shifting power dynamics within the philanthropic sector and beyond.

Workshop dates:

• 1 December: 16.00 UTC
• 2 December: 03.00 UTC
• 7 December: 16.00 UTC
• 8 December: 03.00 UTC

Register here.