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Participatory grantmaking: shifting the power balance (25 August)

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Event description

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

Photo by Lorrie Graham


Dr Liz Thompson, Executive Officer, SharingStories Foundation 

Liz Thompson is deeply involved in guiding the work of the foundation within Indigenous communities and is the organisation’s Executive Officer. She also works alongside senior knowledge authorities and partner communities implementing community-based cultural mapping programs.

A producer of media with over three decades experience creating stories for radio, television and print. Her work includes the series, Sharing Our Stories books created through a collaboration with 14 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. The series won the 2009 Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing and was voted the best resource produced across primary, secondary and tertiary publishing in the country.

She has directed documentary films for ABC/BBC including Breaking Bows and Arrows, an exploration of reconciliation in Bougainville after the civil war. The film won the United Nations Media Peace Award for Best Television and The AIBD World Award for the Promotion of Conflict Resolution and the Grand Jury Prize at the 3rd International Festival of Oceania Documentary Film. Liz has produced numerous feature-length programs for ABC Radio National, online content, stories for international print media, and has published of over 30 books. Liz possesses a PhD from La Trobe University, focusing on self-representational digital media practices in remote Indigenous communities.

Chris Wootton, Director, Philanthropic Consulting Services

Chris is currently a trustee of the Campbell Edwards Trust, Director Philanthropic Consulting Services, Director, Giving Connect Pty Ltd, and committee member of the Shire of Mitchell Environment Advisory Committee. Some of his grant strategy/grant process consulting clients include: AET; The Bryan Foundation; The Phillips Foundation; Equity Trustees; JM Philanthropy; Stan Perron Charitable Trust and Optus.  

Chris was previously the CEO, Alliance for Water Stewardship Asia-Pacific and Philanthropic Services Manager & A/CEO at Philanthropy Australia. He has worked in the philanthropic sector for over 15 years managing the granting programs for some of the largest trusts/foundations in Australia including: Helen Macpherson Smith Trust; ANZ Trustees, William Buckland Foundation; Felton Bequest; Sylvia & Charles Viertel Charitable Trust, JO & JR Wicking Trust and RACV Community Foundation.

Chris was the inaugural CEO of WaterAid Australia, a new international aid and development agency which provides safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people. Chris has also held senior executive roles at Melbourne Water, Water Services Association of Australia and the University of Melbourne.

His other community roles have included: President & Board Member Community & Information Support Victoria; Board Member Julian Burton Burns Trust; and Co-opted Board Member of The Trustees for the Strathewen Bushfire Relief Fund.



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