Inspired by the growing involvement and leadership of women in the field of philanthropy in the Global North, five years ago we started a research and action programme – ELLAS – Women and Philanthropy – to promote the participation of women in philanthropy in Latin America. After some research we realized that this was, apparently, not the case in our region. Women at the top of our societies were not getting richer, were not becoming the new philanthropists, nor creating their own foundations. However, there was no doubt that women in general were playing a key role in expanding democracy,...

This piece originally appeared on the Alliance magazine website. At the 2019 UK Community Foundations (UKCF) Conference, I was asked to give a five minute “lightning talk” on the closing day, sharing my views and perception of what the conference theme “Empowering Communities Together” means to me, along with three other fine colleagues: Jeff Yost of the Nebraska Community Foundation, Rachel  Searle-Mbullu of Foundation Scotland and Niamh Goggin of the Community Foundation for Northern-Ireland. This is a written executive extension of my talk, which was elegantly shut down when going overtime by Conference Chair and BBC Radio Scotland’s finest Sally Magnusson,...