Financial Times: Philanthropy’s blighted reputation threatens global giving
Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy

“Charitable giving worldwide supports a diverse and vital group of non-government organizations working on issues from disaster relief and global poverty to educational opportunities for girls. But today, at least in the U.S., it faces what experts warn may be the beginnings of a decline due to a recent trend of lower giving among small-gift givers. … Decreases among everyday donors would be cause enough for concern on its own. But there is another looming, less discussed, threat: giving among the biggest donors worldwide may also fall as their charitable efforts are increasingly caricatured as self-protective ruses. … Of course, critique is vital. But a cynical, generalized dismissal goes too far. … I am glad Bill and Melinda Gates have focused on global health, contributing to a dramatic decrease in childhood mortality. Philanthropy has supported research and experimentation on much of what we take for granted in modern life, from vaccines to the internet. At the community level, giving supports organizations and leaders doing crucial work in areas from arts and culture to human services…” (4/15).

Financial Times: Letter: Encourage philanthropists to change their approach on aid
Jean-Jacques Schul, founder and honorary chair at IDAY

“…[Foreign donors] are driving poor countries on a non-sustainable development path. … The case of malaria is indicative. Foreign aid has succeeded in reducing by three-quarters the number of worldwide deaths due to the disease. But despite annual donations of about $3bn, malaria deaths have been flat stagnant since 2016 … [Some countries] have seen malaria rise again after foreign aid was withdrawn. Foreign donors should not be discouraged to give, but they should change their money-spending approach. They should follow the rules laid out by those who have evaluated foreign aid and the conditions under which it can stop retarding poverty alleviation and instead provide genuine equitable and sustainable solutions. … They should not only pay more taxes in their home country, but support tax reforms in the recipient countries to get their government to devote more money to social services instead of depending on hazardous and corrupting foreign aid” (4/18).