Philanthropy, or early acts of charity, can be dated back to 1800 BC, where ancient Egyptian sacred writings discussed “benevolent acts towards the sufferer.” As civilizations and societies have grown and progressed, so have philanthropic efforts across the world. It is more challenging today because resources must be distributed across many competing crises rather than a single visible need. Understanding the inner workings of a country’s environmental, social, and economic needs is extremely challenging and allows philanthropic efforts to get bombarded by obstacles that were originally not accounted for.
Our clients aim to solve this issue, ensuring that these generous donors’ and sponsors’ money will truly address the root of the problems originally identified. My team and I have been tasked with analyzing philanthropic efforts, including their successes and barriers, in both Brazil and Nigeria. To understand why these systems are developed and operate the way they do, we must explore the depth of each country’s individual culture. This will include background research on the innerworkings of social and governance frameworks developed in each country, environmental limiting or benefiting factors, and the economic standing of its population. We will also examine how historical development patterns and public trust in institutions shape philanthropic participation.
While doing this preliminary research, we will be able to comprehend not only which philanthropic areas are succeeding but also understand what areas need to be improved. This will help our client not only identify philanthropic sectors that can and need to be strengthened but also highlight areas in need of catalytic capital investment to advance the needs of each country. This project is policy-oriented, aimed at understanding each country’s systemic relationships surrounding philanthropic efforts. We seek to dissect the policies in place that govern the relationship with philanthropy and determine where regulatory reform or incentive structures could unlock greater impact.
This client’s mission aligns with the goals of my previous work to provide effective change for sustainable outcomes. To work with an investing organization that aims to put capital back into communities to create a better world allows me to be truly passionate about the impact this work has. I hope to strengthen my analytical understanding of global impact finance and continue advancing my consulting skills through this hands-on experience. Although we lost a team member, as he dropped the class, I am confident in my team’s ability to produce excellent outcomes. We are a team of strong, motivated women from around the world, all passionate about the impact philanthropy has on society and the just and sustainable future we hope to contribute to.