by: Hanna Stähle, Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association
As part of Philanthropy Ireland’s Philanthropy Symposium 24, attendees will explore potential futures for the Irish philanthropy community and examine ways to support social impact through strategic giving by conducting a Foresight Laboratory led by the Copenhagen Institute of Foresight. Philanthropy Ireland is bringing this initiative to the Irish space with the hope to build on the fantastic work from Philea. Hanna Stähle, Head of Foresight and Innovation at Philea explains why they so passionately believe in the potential to use the futures thinking methodology to support a strong, responsive and innovative philanthropy sector in Europe.
Foresight is not an established practice in philanthropy. If only it was, philanthropic qualifications for doing so would be striking. Here I will try to explain the reasons why taking the long view and integrating futures thinking is essential for funders and philanthropy networks, and even more essential to provide capacity building to civil society organisations and charities.
The World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Risks Report warned of a “new era of low growth, low investment, and low cooperation” over the next decade, threatening to reverse decades of human progress. This could lead to heightened poverty, hunger and inequality, exacerbating the already existing wealth gap within and between nations, and signs of these changes are already everywhere. The Report identifies five of the top ten global risks as being climate-related, including failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change, natural disasters, biodiversity loss and resource shortage. Vast areas of the planet may become uninhabitable, leading to mass migration. In addition, the social contract appears fractured, as societies struggle with the heavy burden placed on future generations.
These are also the findings of the Philea “Exploring 21st century philanthropy” survey conducted in 2023 among public-benefit foundations, philanthropy networks, civil society organisations, thinktanks, research institutions, businesses and media. Among the top five megatrends that have impact at the global level are climate change and environmental degradation; AI and automation; concentration of wealth; climate migration; and the rising influence of new governing systems. These are complex challenges where cause and effect are often unclear, leaving many unsettled about the future. What is more, well-intended programmes and interventions addressing these challenges can lead to unintended consequences.
Unsurprisingly, many of the traditional frameworks we have long relied upon to navigate change do not bring the results we want to see. This requires philanthropic organisations to stay open and flexible and expand the toolbox with new approaches and practices to cope with uncertainty and unpredictability. Having hope about the future - and constantly validating this hope - is essential to be able to shape positive change - and this is a crucial role philanthropy needs to play today. Anticipation and futures thinking offer us a new lens to see some of the wicked problems from a different perspective, but also give us the tools to imagine alternative pathways and solutions.
Philanthropy is well positioned to harness the benefits and insights of foresight that, if done right, is deeply connected with what philanthropic organisations are trying to do at the core: providing the long view, building bridges between different stakeholders and facilitating dialogue, integrating diverse perspectives and thinking, focusing on discovery. Foresight is never done in isolation; the best insights are provided from participatory processes of large, diverse groups with various experiences. Philanthropy can inspire change and help build this much-needed collective capacity not only to react to the current challenges, but also to develop a flexibility to adapt and anticipate possible risks and opportunities.
Foresight is sometimes mistaken for a silver bullet, which will give all the answers. It is not a silver bullet. Foresight is hard work and collaborative effort.
Philea’s and Copenhagen Institute of Foresight recent publication, “Futures Philanthropy: Anticipation for the Common Good”, explores how and why philanthropy could play a role in fostering anticipation for the common good and what anticipation looks like when it is put in the service of society and common interests. It offers an overview of foresight tools adapted specifically to the philanthropic context. The Report provides practical insights into how to embed a futures mindset and apply futures tools, such as scenario planning, horizon scanning, causal layered analysis, futures triangle and others, to strategy, grantmaking practices, collaboration, evaluation of impact and even investments. This publication, a polyphony of voices from across the European philanthropic community and its living practice, is replete with examples and case studies that can provide clues as to how foresight can be adopted to (y)our own context.
Embracing foresight and futures thinking is critical for funders and philanthropy networks in times of uncertainty, when strategy development and programme design become an ambiguous exercise. Foresight which is built on evidence, diverse perspectives and collaborative efforts, is aimed at providing a kaleidoscope of views of and insights into what is possible and at challenging our assumptions, which can often become stuck in the present or the past.