Major Findings – the details

Need for Structural Change within Philanthropy

Issues in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America cannot be solved by merely channelling funds directly to organizations. We need to revolutionize funding practices and narratives, focusing on redistributing decision-making power.

To strengthen the ecosystem, funders must provide core and flexible funding, improve grantmaking speed, and invest in financial infrastructure and leadership development. The studies urge funders to engage in joint advocacy, nurture networks, and support experimentation and learning to adapt to evolving contexts.

Trust and Relationship Building are Key

Success depends on shifting from transactional funding to relational partnerships rooted in trust, mutual respect, and shared values. Funders are encouraged to adopt more horizontal approaches, co-design strategies with local actors, and move away from limiting labels like “intermediaries” to language that reflects real contributions. 

Evolving Role of Intermediaries and Re-granters

Intermediaries and re-granters are essential for managing complexity, offering localized expertise, and ensuring strategic fund distribution across diverse contexts. Beyond acting as financial conduits, they play a vital role in shaping development agendas and supporting systemic change. 

There is a growing call within the sector to broaden how these actors are viewed. This implies redefining their role through more inclusive language and narratives that reflect their multifaceted contributions to social transformation, including by recognising them and organisations leading change as partners.

Ample Opportunities for Philanthropies to Support

The studies identified over 120 intermediary organisations (including coalitions, networks, and philanthropic institutions across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America) with strong capacities and reach. These partners operate at local, national, regional, and global levels, and are ready to engage with funders in meaningful ways. There is clear potential to scale impact through partnerships that respect local knowledge and leadership. 

Address Regulatory Constraints

Civil society organisations in the Global South face increasing restrictions from national governments through tightened regulatory mechanisms. Anti-money-laundering laws further limit the flow of cross-border philanthropic funding, creating operational barriers for international support. Addressing these requires that philanthropies support local organisations to transcend these barriers 

Commit to and work towards systemic change 

Corporate foundations tend to favor a “techno-managerial” model that emphasizes measurable social service delivery while avoiding engagement with systemic change or contentious issues such as gender equality, human rights, and climate justice.

The Ecosystem is Diverse and Strategic

Partners are not only community-based organisations, but include others with systemic perspectives and networks that could take on intermediary and re-granting roles. They provide deep contextual insight, engage in advocacy, conduct research, and manage grantmaking. Their ability to integrate across sectors like climate, human rights, and gender equality enhances their potential for transformational change.

Effective Practices are Already in Place

Local organizations demonstrate strong practices, including managing complex finances, navigating legal barriers, and fostering innovative grant procedures like participatory and trust-based funding. They build capacity among smaller partners and support regulatory compliance, which boosts legitimacy and long-term sustainability. Philanthropies can help by supporting local term sustainability of organisations through appropriate funding approaches