WINGS announces inaugural recipients of the WINGS Ecosystem Builder Awards

29 September 2026

New global awards recognise organisations strengthening philanthropy support ecosystems around the world

Montreal, Canada | 29 September 2026

WINGS announced the inaugural recipients of the WINGS Ecosystem Builder Awards (WEBAs), recognising six organisations whose work is strengthening philanthropy support ecosystems in different regions and contexts around the world.

Presented during WINGSForum 2026 in Montréal, the awards celebrate organisations that strengthen philanthropy by investing in the relationships, knowledge, infrastructure and collaboration that enable the sector to thrive.

The 2026 recipients are:

The disruption we are seeing in international development and the broader social sector is forcing us to rethink how philanthropy works. We need to let go of donor-centred approaches, fully recognise and support changemakers and communities sovereignty, agency and leadership; help them create sustainable, more local and independent financing models, help mobilise new and more diverse resources, and strengthen the coalitions and networks that are rooted in communities and can sustain change, build synergies, collective strength and resilience over time. This is why ecosystem builders are no longer a good-to-have but are at the heart of the deep change that needs to happen. They are not simply supporting the field as it exists today. They are helping build a different architecture for the future, and that is what we want the WEBAs to recognise and encourage.

– Benjamin Bellegy, Executive Director, WINGS

Humentum & CIPFA were recognised for leading the development of the International Non-Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS), a global framework that strengthens financial reporting, transparency and accountability across the nonprofit sector.

Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises was recognised for nearly two decades of strengthening women’s rights organisations and investing in the long-term capacity of local movements in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Alianza Socioambiental Fondos del Sur was recognised for connecting socio-environmental funds across the Global South through collaboration, shared learning and collective action.

GuideStar India was recognised for strengthening trust and transparency by making verified information about charitable organisations publicly accessible and supporting stronger reporting practices across India’s nonprofit sector.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation was recognised for its long-standing investment in philanthropy infrastructure, including the organisations and networks that strengthen the wider field.

The Circle on Philanthropy was recognised for advancing Indigenous-led philanthropy in Canada and strengthening relationships grounded in Indigenous leadership, reciprocity and self-determination.

Recognising ecosystem builders

The WINGS Ecosystem Builder Awards recognise organisations and individuals whose work strengthens philanthropy support ecosystems, from building capability and capacity to fostering collaboration, strengthening credibility and investing in the infrastructure that enables philanthropy to thrive.

The inaugural recipients were selected through an international peer review process led by the WEBA Peer Selection Committee, bringing together philanthropy leaders from different regions and parts of the field to review nominations and identify organisations making distinctive contributions to stronger philanthropy ecosystems.

For more information about the WINGS Ecosystem Builder Awards and the 2026 recipients, visit www.wingsweb.org. 

Media contact

Claire Anderson, Director of Communications, WINGS

Email: canderson@wingsweb.org 

Website: wingsweb.org 

About WINGS

WINGS is the only global network dedicated to strengthening philanthropy so it can better contribute to more just, equitable and sustainable societies. Bringing together more than 260 organisations across over 60 countries, WINGS connects philanthropy support organisations, foundations, associations, networks and other ecosystem actors to share knowledge, strengthen practice, and advance collaboration across the sector.

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