Participatory grantmaking: shifting the power balance (24 August)

Across the breadth and depth of Australian philanthropy, an idea is stirring. It may not be readily identifiable just yet but there are signs that participatory grantmaking is building momentum, sparking interest and triggering conversations around changing the giving dynamic.  

We’re seeing evidence that participatory grantmaking is not only being thought about, but also being practiced – although it might not always be described or presented in this way.  

Now, in our next Thought Leadership Series we bring together two international experts on participatory grantmaking to share their knowledge and experience: Lani Evans, Head of the Vodafone Foundation (NZ), and Michael Jarvis, Executive Director of the Transparency and Accountability Initiative (US).  They will draw on practical case studies and learnings to outline the benefit of this approach for funders and the community. 

Lani undertook a Churchill Fellowship in 2015 that focused on participatory grantmaking. In her report, Lani explained “When done well, participation can help people understand their own leadership and agency, enable decolonization and empower individuals and communities.”   

“For funders who aim to enable social change, participatory practice provides a social justice framework that values lived experience and helps funders bring their own values to life.’’ 

Michael works closely with leading philanthropic organisations to expand the impact and scale of transparency, participation and accountability.  Most recently, he has supported Ford Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundations to embed these practices in their giving strategies.  

Philanthropy Australia invites you to join Lani, Michael and a panel of Australian experts for an interactive, online, two-hour session to learn how philanthropy can adopt a participatory approach.  Be part of the discussion that will showcase how to shift the power dynamic in grantmaking and boost equity, inclusion and diversity, whilst also promoting the potential for innovation and collaboration.  

Presenters

Lani Evans - Head of the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation

Lani believes philanthropy can be a powerful lever for positive change and that grant-makers must take a bold, transparent and collaborative approach to funding.

She has been Head of the Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation since 2016, co-founded the Thankyou Charitable Trust, and is a board member of both Thankyou Payroll and the Peter McKenzie Project. She is a past recipient of the NZ Emerging Philanthropist of the Year, completed a Winston Churchill Fellowship focused on participatory philanthropy and was awarded a New Year’s Honour for services to social enterprise.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Lani can be found hiking, biking and running in the hills around Porirua, where she lives in an intergenerational household with her husband Hugh, her son Ara, her mother Ann, various siblings, two nephews, five chickens, one cat and two dogs.

Michael Jarvis - Executive Director, the Transparency and Accountability Initiative

Michael Jarvis joined TAI after almost two decades working on different aspects of the global good governance and development agenda. He has led the development of TAI’s new strategy and approach, and directs engagement across the new priorities for the donor members.

Prior to joining TAI in 2016, Michael was the Global Lead for Extractives Governance within the World Bank Group’s Governance Global Practice. He led the institution’s programming to reinforce knowledge, learning and innovative approaches to strengthening good governance in the critical oil, gas and mining sectors. Overall, Michael worked over ten years with the World Bank in a variety of roles relating to anti corruption, private sector partnerships for development, and multi-stakeholder governance. This included a focus on contracting issues through which he helped shepherd development of a new global initiative on Open Contracting to promote better outcomes from the estimated $9.5 trillion in public-private contracts globally.

Michael previously worked on industry codes of conduct and as a consultant on corporate responsibility and transparency issues, including a focus on the agribusiness, chemical and defense industries. Michael has advanced degrees from the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University. He is a frequent author and blogger and misses his time as a radio DJ.

Session Panellists

Stephanie Exton, Executive Director, Mornington Peninsula Foundation 

Stephanie is CEO of the Mornington Peninsula Foundation, where she works to connect donors and government service providers with grassroots community organisations and local businesses.

Over her 15 years in philanthropy, Stephanie has developed and refined a specialised approach to building networks for social change from the ground up. Combining grass roots conversations with leading research and data analytics MPF works with the community to assess crucial needs and provide targeted support. By building networks through structured collaboration between government, philanthropy and the community, MPF works as a catalyst to create supportive local movements for sustainable outcomes.

Peter Aldenhoven, Executive Officer, Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association

Peter Aldenhoven is a descendant of the peoples of Quandamooka – more particularly, the Nughi clan from Moorgumpin (Moreton Island, Queensland).

Peter was a recipient of the 2017-2018 Victorian Fellowship of Indigenous Leadership, Emerging Leader award and the founding President of Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, an Aboriginal gathering place on the Mornington Peninsula. He is currently the Executive Officer of Willum Warrain/ Men’s Business.

Previously, Peter was the Executive Officer of Victoria’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-led philanthropic sub fund called ‘Koondee Wonga-gat Toor-rong’ (give jointly/ share together in Woiwurrung).

He has presented at two Philanthropy Australia conferences and two International Funders of Indigenous Peoples’ conferences on Indigenous philanthropy.

He has also been an Indigenous educator and ran exchange programs for a decade to four remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.