How can the philanthropic sector navigate the profound uncertainties of the next 15 years?

The session ‘Exploring the Futures of Philanthropy’ confronted this central question, challenging funders and organisations to move from reactive planning to proactive co-creation. It emphasised that preparing for what’s next requires more than strategic analysis; it demands a fundamental interplay of imagination, innovation, inclusion, and institutional shifts to enable substantial systemic change. The conversation critically examined how internal barriers, such as uncertainty, fear, and cognitive biases can skew how funders assess potential futures and their own impact, arguing that the sector’s mindset is as crucial as its resources in shaping what comes next.

Koff Kouakou from the Wits School of Governance structured this exploration by presenting three speculative scenarios for the next 10 to 15 years. He mapped a spectrum of possible futures for the next 15 years:

  • The ‘Regenerative commons,’ a best-case vision where philanthropy evolves into a field of collective learning and systemic reform, fueled by psychological resilience and intergenerational foresight.
  • The ‘Fragmented transition,’ a middle-ground future where the sector is caught in tension between hope and fear, and between empathetic collaboration and ego-driven inertia.
  • The ‘Philanthropy of expression,’ a cautionary worst-case scenario where giving becomes a superficial, extractive tool for optics and control, devoid of genuine imagination or empathy.

Kouakou established that the psychology and narrative framing within philanthropy are powerful drivers that will determine which of these paths the sector ultimately follows.

Building on this, Geci Kakuri-Sebina, Associate Professor at Wits School of Governance, drilled into the power dynamics of foresight. She argued that philanthropy is, in essence, a commitment to a specific vision of the future, raising the critical question: whose futures are being ‘futured,’ and whose are being ‘defutured’? She challenged the institutional structures and traditions that often stifle innovation, urging a shift towards investing in conditions that allow communities to creatively self-determine. For her, meaningful inclusion is the non-negotiable key to shaping equitable outcomes.

Read the full article about the futures of philanthropy by Tarisai Jangara at Alliance Magazine.