What we do
The people of WINGS are equal parts think tank and do-team. We help set priorities and drive agendas across three strategic imperatives which, together, offer the greatest potential for creating lasting systemic change.
Collective intelligence
Strengthening ecosystems
Advocacy and policy
Advocacy and policy
Philanthropy and governments need each other. The work of each is enhanced by the other. The philanthropic sector is a key partner in helping solve social and economic challenges that governments grapple with. Philanthropy can provide resources, non-financial assets, innovations and expertise. And philanthropy needs governments to provide the conditions and policies that enable the sector to do its work, and to have channels available for engagement and discussion - all in the name of the greater good.
WINGS works across three critical areas to promote our advocacy and policy agenda:
Yet, around the world there is a growing trend toward governmental restrictions on the sector and on civil society at large. Limitations on cross-border funding and on the ability of philanthropic and civil society organisations (CSOs) to incorporate, operate and solicit donations for their work are becoming common.
There is now an urgent need for the philanthropy sector to advocate for an enabling environment. To speak with global policymakers and advocate for the sector while sharing the best of its innovations and ideas on a range of social issues.
As a global network that strives to be accountable, collaborative and transparent, WINGS is uniquely placed to provide a credible voice that represents the philanthropy sector and advocates for its rights. To facilitate this, WINGS is creating new channels and platforms to help philanthropic actors develop a more integrated approach to their solutions and set the highest standards of accountability and transparency in their work.
We are facilitating more effective collaborations with government policymakers and service providers, and, at the same time, ensuring philanthropic actors of every type are the most effective and trustworthy partners they can be. WINGS is committed to ensuring the philanthropic community has a seat at the table to advocate for the best possible way to drive progress.
WINGS works across three critical areas to promote our advocacy and policy agenda:
1. An enabling environment
Creating a stronger enabling environment
PSOs work diligently to educate government actors and advocate for constructive policy. But advocacy and policy work are often not their core areas of expertise and they often lack the resources, tools and capacity they need to sustain this crucial effort. WINGS provides that support and a neutral/safe space for PSOs to learn the most effective strategies and tactics from each other.
Learn more
Framework Partnership Agreement with the EU
Building upon WINGS’ 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and the success of the ‘Unlocking Philanthropy’s Potential’ initiative, WINGS signed a four-year Framework Partnership Agreement with the EU and, in July 2023, launched the Leap 4 Dev project. This project aims to leverage philanthropy’s engagement, funding, influence and added value to implement the 2030 Agenda and become a relevant partner in development cooperation. learn more.
Assessing the Legal Environment for Civil Society Organisations
A tool developed by WINGS and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) to help philanthropy organisations decide where it may be best to engage in efforts to improve the legal environment at the national and/or regional levels
Impact Case Studies: Promoting an Enabling Environment for Philanthropy and Civil Society
A series of case studies that illustrate how PSOs have implemented successful strategies to promote an enabling environment for civil society and philanthropy to thrive.
2. Direct action
Direct action to help shape the global policy agenda for building civil society
WINGS has been invited to take leadership roles in critical international forums and policy-setting organisations to advocate for the role of philanthropy and strengthen social impact ecosystems. We also serve as an observer, advisor, featured speaker and agenda setter at a number of different social impact forums throughout the year.
How we do it
International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change
WINGS is host of the Commitment, which will open for signature by individual foundations and philanthropic organisations in September 2021. The signatories commit to strive for progress on seven pillars of climate action: 1. Education and learning; 2. Commitment of resources; 3. Integration (of a climate lens); 4. Endowments and assets; 5.Operations; 6.Influencing and advocacy; 7. Transparency.
Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC)
The GPEDC is led by the organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UN Development Programme (UNDP). Its purpose is to define the best way to ensure social impact organisations play the greatest possible role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. WINGS was invited to hold the seat representing philanthropy and leads the Action Area on Foundations Engagement.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Private Sector Consultative Forum
The Private Sector Consultative Forum offers direct engagement between the FATF and private sector on anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing issues, the European Foundation Centre represents the WINGS network by holding one of the NGO seats on this forum
Policy Forum on Development (PFD)
The PFD brings together civil society organisations, local authorities from the European Union and partner countries with European institutions and bodies to ensure policies within the EU create the best possible environment for philanthropy to flourish. WINGS holds a seat on the PDF and is an active contributor to its work.
WEF Initiative on Partnering with Civil Society in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
This is a multi-stakeholder platform for driving stakeholder responsibility for social justice in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, through collective action and systems change interventions with civil society on the design, deployment, use and governance of technology.
3. Multi-actor collaboration
Fostering multi-actor collaboration to help achieving the SDGs
In addition to having an important voice, WINGS members have exceptional talent and hands-on-experience with the kind of work and investment required to achieve the SDGs. WINGS seeks to build partnerships and collaborations to ensure our members are deeply engaged in showing policy makers what will (and will not) work and where critical investment is required.
Promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships involving philanthropy
We identify, gather and share best practices on multi-actor partnerships with the purpose of encouraging our members to become catalysts in the implementation of successful collaboration between philanthropy and other key players (governments, private sector, civil society).
Co-designing and sharing solutions through new ways of working.
At the GPEDC WINGS is leading Action Area 2.5 on Foundations Engagement. Our objective is to promote and increase the engagement of philanthropic organisations in development cooperation by scaling up effective multi-stakeholder partnerships with foundations, taking into account their innovative approaches and financial and non-financial contributions to realising sustainable development.
Sustainable Development Goals Philanthropy Platform (SDGPP)
The SDGPP is a global and national facilitator helping optimise resources and efforts to achieve the SDGs by enabling effective collaboration between philanthropy and the broader ecosystem. In January 2020 WINGS assumed the co-leadership of the SDGPP together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Learn more
Philanthropy’s Potential Role in the Global Response to COVID-19
WINGS, UNDP, SDG Philanthropy Platform, in close collaboration with Candid.
Taking a Comprehensive Approach in Response to COVID-19 and Financing the SDGs
WINGS, UNDP, CAF America, and the Indiana University Lilly Family School.
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Achieve the SDGs
WINGS, UNDP and SDGPP in close collaboration with GPEDC and the OECD.
Get involved
If you are a WINGS member, join the Enabling Environment Working Group and learn more, along with your peers, about how different PSOs are supporting foundations and civil society in response to restrictions. But also how they are leading change towards a more open space for philanthropy and other non-profit actors to thrive.
Call for cases on the enabling environment
We need your voice and examples. We are developing the next wave of Impact Case Studies and are gathering relevant experiences and learnings from across our network and beyond. If you have an experience about the promotion of a more enabling environment that you would like to share with your peers, please contact us.
Become a member of WINGS
Get access to the best knowledge, the most innovative practitioners and the most compelling partnerships and alliances by becoming a member of WINGS.