Is Philanthropy the Solution or Part of the Problem?
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Session Description
The world of philanthropy is no stranger to critique, but over the past year, the field has weathered sharp and sometimes scathing criticism. Many agree that philanthropy can and should play a role in systems change. Others argue that philanthropy perpetuates inequity and undermines democracy. Join leaders on all sides of this issue to discuss whether philanthropic dollars and their institutions are heading in the right direction.
Time & Location
Time:
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM, Wednesday, April 10, 2019
BST
Location:
Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre
Speakers
-
Speaker
Rodney is CEO of Common Future, a nonprofit social enterprise with a bold vision: Building a future where all people have power, choice, and ownership over the economy. Previously, he was founder and CEO of Invested Impact, an intermediary that facilitated millions of dollars in philanthropic and impact investment capital into community economic development projects and social entrepreneurs of color.
His writing has appeared in the Boston Review, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Quarterly, and Stanford Social Innovation Review. A Ford Global Fellow and Skoll Awardee, Rodney has been quoted in Forbes, Inc., MarketWatch, The New York Times, and Vox. He’s spoken at Aspen Ideas Festival, Clinton Global Initiative, Global Philanthropy Forum, and other stages, addressing topics such as monopoly power, economic racism and wealth inequality, and institutionalized discrimination in philanthropy.
He serves on the boards of Nonprofit Finance Fund, Race Forward, and SOCAP Global.
-
Speaker
Ella Gudwin is the CEO of VisionSpring, a social entrepreneur and strategist with more than 20 years of experience in global health and international development. Before coming to VisionSpring, she served as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Program Development at AmeriCares. She completed her Master's in Emerging Market Economics and Southeast Asia studies from SAIS, Johns Hopkins University. She regularly speaks about hybrid business models which blend earned revenue with philanthropy; growing a purpose-driven business that serves low-income customers; and measuring social impact.
-
Speaker
Co-Founder & Partner, Dasra
Deval is the co-founder of Dasra, an India based strategic philanthropy foundation which brings a field building approach to create systems change in India. Over the past 20 years, Dasra has actively shaped the philanthropic sector by building stronger institutions such as Magic Bus, Educate Girls and SNEHA, has worked with leading foundations including Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, Tata Trust, Omidyar Network and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and works closely with government departments at a state and national level to put impact first in the development agenda. Dasra's work spans across a spectrum of focus areas, such as creating collaborative funding platforms in the fields of Adolescents, Urban Sanitation and Democracy and Governance in India. Reinforced through a research-backed approach and institution building for non-profit organisations, Dasra focuses on prioritizing human lives at the centre of all of its thinking.
As co-founder, Deval provides strategic guidance and support to a 100+ member team, is an advisor to multiple family foundations and serves as a trusted confidant to leading NGO leaders and management teams.
-
Speaker
Senior Vice President of Programs and Advocacy, Schott Foundation for Public Education
Edgar Villanueva is a globally-recognized expert on social justice philanthropy. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Native Americans in Philanthropy and is a Board Member of the Andrus Family Fund, NDN Collective, and Mother Jones.
In 2018, Edgar released his first book, Decolonizing Wealth, which offers hopeful and compelling alternatives to the dynamics of colonization in the philanthropic and social finance sectors. Due to the success of Decolonizing Wealth and the request for programs and education about decolonization, Edgar launched the Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP) in late 2018.
In 2019, he founded Liberated Capital, a participatory grant-making fund directed by DWP that invites individuals and organizations to give through a reparations model that trusts and supports the leadership of those most impacted by historical and systemic racism. The fund welcomes support from all who are committed to collectively healing the wounds of colonialism and white supremacy by using money as medicine to shape an equitable future.
Edgar also consults with national and global philanthropies and nonprofits on advancing racial equity inside of their institutions and through their investment strategies.
He holds two degrees from the Gillings Global School of Public Health at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Edgar is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and resides in Brooklyn, NY.
-
Moderator
West Coast Correspondent, Devex
Catherine Cheney is a Senior Reporter for Devex, the media platform for the global development community. She covers the West Coast of the U.S., focusing on the role of technology and innovation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. And she frequently represents Devex as a speaker and moderator. Prior to joining Devex, Catherine earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, worked as a web producer for POLITICO and reporter for World Politics Review, and helped to launch NationSwell. Catherine has reported from around the world, and freelanced for outlets including the Atlantic and the Washington Post. She also works for the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit that trains and connects journalists to cover responses to problems.
