As philanthropy grapples with weighty questions about its responsibility and role in addressing systemic issues, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and the Shifting Systems Initiative are diving deeper into issues the initiative has explored since its inception in 2016.

In June of 2023, the evaluation team of the Shifting Systems Initiative published their report outlining findings of a six-month in-depth evaluation. The evaluation sought to assess the progress of the initiative to date and the state of play in the philanthropy sector regarding adopting approaches that foster support for positive systems change.

Among other invaluable findings, the evaluation surfaced key strategic dilemmas facing philanthropy today. As part of this learning and discovery process, the evaluation team hosted conversations with different groups of interviewees to grapple with these dilemmas. This discussion included critical voices pushing philanthropy to reckon with its power, privileges, and role in maintaining the status quo, including Imandeep Kaur, Kumi Naidoo, Natasha Joshi, and Pia Infante.

While addressing these dilemmas does not offer definitive solutions, the responses below can deepen our understanding of the environment and context for potential change and provide some recommendations to help the sector move in the right direction.