“We have big hairy problems and we need all available hands, hearts, and minds to solve them;
Including new ideas and voices paired with old capital and connections.”
- James Stauch, Institute for Community Prosperity, Mount Royal University

If it feels like the past two years have been a lot, you’re not alone. We’re living through a period that complex system theorists call a phase transition, where institutions, sectors, conventions, and power relationships are being upended. The global pandemic, Black Lives Matter, climate related disasters, and the uncovering of mass graves of Indigenous children have all occurred in two short years. But out of turmoil and tragedy can come progress.
 
Philanthropy is no different. It too is experiencing a phase transition – a shift from top-down power relationships to more inclusive decision-making processes, where we begin to untangle the roots of modern-day philanthropy that are encased in our problematic history. Along with a more collaborative orientation, there’s an aspect of agency for grantees or benefactors that was neither considered nor honored in traditional charitable practices, and the rise of voices that were otherwise not heard. Although collaborative philanthropy has existed for more than a century, the scale of investment and the number of independent funder collaboratives have accelerated quickly, with more than 70 percent of aggregative giving funds emerging in the last twenty years.

The rise of local collaborative philanthropy was born out of both fiscal realities and an underlying need for an evolution in giving practices more aligned with Calgary’s progressive values. The reality of funding scarcity and inconsistency that local non-profits have experienced through the frequent oil and gas downturns combined with the establishment of numerous non-profits has created a competitive landscape for funding. The amalgamation of non-profits and charities, such as the Boys & Girls Club and Aspen Family Services merger are the tangible manifestations of collaborative philanthropy, while the rise of more diverse voices within giving represents the cultural evolution that collaborative philanthropy has helped bring about.
 
One such example is the rise of women’s participation in philanthropy. The transfer of wealth to women that will take place globally over the next two decades is unprecedented, as is the amount of wealth that will be controlled and directed by Canadian women of all ages.

• 70 percent of the impending $30T generational wealth transfer will be inherited by women over the next few decades
• $900B will flow into the bank accounts of Canadian women over the next 10 years due to the generational transfer of wealth and the decreasing gender wage gap

Along with this greater control of wealth, 73 percent of all donors worldwide are now women. The gender shift in philanthropy will not only bring about more money—as women tend to give away almost twice as much of their wealth compared to men—but also changes in practice as women tend to prioritize relationship building and collaboration in their giving.

Since its inception, Viewpoint Foundation’s work has been relationship-centered; focused on high-impact-giving while also valuing the diverse voices of Calgarians. Aligned with the principles and goals of collaborative philanthropy and active participants in the practice, the Viewpoint Foundation is excited to see literature on new orientations of giving that both bolsters the foundation’s approach and provides guidance on how we can continue to grow and evolve. Progress is impossible without change. The transition we are living through suggests we are on the cusp of great change, and philanthropy will undoubtedly play an important role in this. For the Viewpoint Foundation, it’s an exciting time as a philanthropic to set course and influence that transformation.