May 2016

Effective philanthropy: another take (edited by Caroline Hartnell and Andrew Milner) is a collection of 11 stories describing a philanthropic intervention against some form of injustice (socioeconomic and/or political) at a local, national or global scale. These stories are told through the lens of a grantmaker illuminating the sorts of considerations, dilemmas, and uncertainties a grantmaker might wrestle with when making a grant to effect positive social change. They delve deep into the analysis of the problem, the solution, the strategy, and tactics used to address it, the risks and challenges involved, and the impact of the philanthropic support.

The purpose in telling these stories is to broaden the circle of philanthropy practitioners whose aim is to help produce lasting change in the lives of people and communities, by showing how such grantmaking is done and giving evidence of its impact.

The stories broadly fall into three categories:

Supporting marginalized groups and communities to achieve change in their own lives

Authored by Hania Aswad, Naseej Foundation: www.naseej-cyd.org

Link for file (in Arabic): http://www.naseej-cyd.org/uploads/files/resources1/almulhem-in-social-justice.pdf

In English, ‘Al Mulhem’ means ‘the Inspirer’.  While it serves as an inspiring ‘training and work implementation’ guide (not manual), it also aims at reaching out to the larger CSOs world of practitioners and activists, NGOs, philanthropists and donors, interested in applying social justice and right based values and principles in their work; despite of their specialization. 

General Objectives: 

By Hania Aswad

This quote by Suzanne Siskel, also a member of the PSJ&P working group, sums it all for me;

“… I don’t think you can talk about social change or social justice – if that includes affecting changes in behavior, belief and attitude – without considering the cultural dimensions of the ways in which people experience and filter the world. And artistic expression - voices, rhythms and visions – are tangible and visceral ways in which resistance to new influences may be mediated and change and adaptation can be shaped.” Suzanne Siskel, Asia Foundation (San Francisco, US)

Heading the Naseej Foundation which aims at achieving justice for communities and supporting a good number of ‘Arts & Culture’ programs and artists amongst many others from various sectors, I often find myself having to defend the direct relevance between our mission and the Arts.