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.

The real potential of philanthropy in all its forms has yet to be harnessed to its greatest effect. Tapping into the potential of private funding — from foundations to the middle class, from High Net Worth Individuals to individual acts of charity  —would have a great impact on achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and build more just, equitable and healthy societies around the world.

WINGS works across three critical areas to strengthen ecosystems: 

We are at the forefront of a movement of changemakers who believe that investing in such ecosystems can be game-changing for social impact in every community and region in which this approach is being deployed. We work with all visionary funders who want to increase the impact and sustainability of their work by making this a central tenet of their mission. 

WINGS works across three critical areas to strengthen ecosystems: 

Achieving this requires strategic thinking and investments in the infrastructure that can support, stimulate, and lead philanthropy. This diverse set of enablers and catalysts - philanthropy networks, advisors, advocates, giving platforms- boost the volumes and effectiveness of philanthropy. The vision of the philanthropy support ecosystem is when these players collaborate and are strongly supported.

We work to create a better understanding of the strategic importance of the PSE, and the vital role philanthropy support organisations play in unlocking the potential of philanthropy. WINGS engages the entire philanthropic and development community to build a common vision and language for the PSE to ensure collaborations are as strong as possible.

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This is a first attempt at a globally applicable and locally adaptable taxonomy that enables more international dialogue on the roles and contributions of PSOs in different ecosystems. This taxonomy builds on the WINGS 4Cs framework, developed in partnership with Philea (formerly Dafne) in 2017 to classify the contributions of PSOs to enhancing the capacity, capability, connection and credibility of philanthropy.

Towards a Taxonomy for Philanthropy Support Organisations and Ecosystems

WINGS has created a ground-up participatory approach to engage local stakeholders in building a comprehensive PSE mapping. This process helps identify opportunities to unlock the potential of philanthropy  and engages local philanthropic actors to build a community of ecosystem champions.

Participatory mapping methodology for philanthropy support organisations and ecosystems

This tool offers key indicators, a framework and a methodology to identify and categorise the perceived strengths, needs and potential of a PSE. It can be used to round out the knowledge and understanding of existing indexes.

Capturing Perceptions of a Philanthropy Support Ecosystem (PSE)

How we do it

WINGS actively campaigns with private funders and organisations to unleash the fullest potential of their work through direct investment in the financial, technical and intellectual resources necessary to strengthen PSEs where they operate.

We are facilitating an open dialogue to foster strategic reflection and gather collective wisdom about what it will take to grow the quality, diversity and impact of philanthropic work around the world. Our objective is to educate funders about the incredible potential of philanthropy and the unique role philanthropy support organisations play in bringing it to fruition.

#LiftUpPhilanthropy campaign

The WINGS Funders Working Group (FWG) is an international group of funding organisations working collaboratively to improve philanthropy practice and strengthen philanthropic ecosystems. The FWG provides philanthropy organisations with the chance to share their reflections, challenges and successes with others working in the field around the world.

Engaging the funders community

WINGS has leadership roles in critical international forums and policy-setting organisations to advocate for the potential to grow and improve domestic philanthropy, including at the grassroots level, and the need for development actors to invest in the philanthropy support ecosystem to unlock this potential.

Driving the policy agenda for philanthropy

WINGS has developed unique expertise in how to build and grow thriving PSEs and has developed real-world pilot programmes to illustrate the concrete steps funders, PSOs and other stakeholders can take to strengthen philanthropy support ecosystems wherever they operate. 

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have socio-economic, political and cultural conditions that make them an ideal innovation lab for building a philanthropic support ecosystem. Success in LAC countries will help establish a more just, equitable, and democratic civil society across the region and provide a good model for how to make similar progress in other regions. The LAC Project  began in 2017 when WINGS created a first-of-its-kind report assessing the strengths and gaps in the LAC philanthropy ecosystem. That report became the catalyst for bringing together key philanthropic actors across the region in WINGS’ first regional meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean. From that gathering, WINGS formed the Latin America and Caribbean Working Group with a variety of influential actors in the region.

Pilot programme: Strengthening the PSE in Latin America and the Caribbean

In collaboration with WINGS, Ashoka University’s Centre for Social Impact & Philanthropy created a first-of-its-kind assessment of the development of the social impact and philanthropy sectors across India for the past two decades. The resulting report mapped the existing infrastructure of philanthropy support organisations (PSOs) and offered specific steps to strengthen Indian philanthropy infrastructure.

Pilot programme: Strengthening the Philanthropy Support Ecosystem in India

LAC Working Group is providing a flexible framework of exchange and shared learning for philanthropy support organizations in the region. The LAC working group is currently gathering and curating different experiences from members, exchanging relevant information and initiatives, and facilitating peer-learning and collaborations across the region. Read the Collective Declaration from the Group. 
The Group integrates the work of 59 members from 39 organizations in 11 countries in the region.

Working Group: Latin America and the Caribbean

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* INGOs can decide if they would rather be classified as a supporting member, including membership in the Funders Working Group. We will review this on a case-by-case basis.

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WINGS offers the following types of membership:

Regular member — Regular members are recognised as legitimate organisations whose primary focus is to develop, strengthen and promote the field of philanthropy and giving (more than 50% of their activities should be aimed at this). Organisations can be for-profit but must contribute to building the field such as developing publicly available research.

Supporting member — Supporting members must demonstrate a commitment, investment (primarily financial) and/or interest in developing the field of philanthropy, local resource mobilisation, and strengthening civil society. They can include: Private institutional funders • Family offices • Multilateral and bilateral development finance agencies and other development funders. This category of supporting members has access to the Funders Working Group, a funder peer community. 

Enabling member — Enabling members support philanthropy as a subset of their main functions: • Audit firms • Banks/wealth management firms • Data analytics organisations • Fellowships and talent management organisations • Incubators and accelerators • INGOs* •  Law firms • Mainstream consulting firms • Marketing and PR Firms • Non-profit organisations • Social media and technology platforms.

If you have doubts or need additional information, contact Eva Rehse, Network and Ecosystems Director at WINGS.

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The WINGS network is grateful for the support of our funders and thought partners. Without their help, our important work would not be possible.