A how-to guide with soul: ‘Smart Risks’ shows the power of small grants

Community philanthropy practitioners in the Global South already know the power of local people harnessing their own resources and using them to realize their own vision of community development. The problem is that many other people don’t. Smart Risks: How Small Grants Are Helping Solve Some of the World’s Biggest Problems, a new anthology by Practical Action Publishing, aims to change that.

Edited by Jennifer Lentfer and Tanya Cothran, the book features essays from 22 authors from around the world – from people working on the ground in grassroots community foundations to those channeling the resources of well-endowed philanthropic funds. The authors build a compelling case that small grants are not only a sound financial investment that can deliver much greater results than large top-down grants, but a powerful tool for building richer relationships and greater understanding between donors and communities.

Given the rise in online giving platforms that allow individuals to make donations to people and organizations around the world, Smart Risks comes at the perfect time. The book speaks directly to “small” donors who want their money to support the people who need it most but don’t know how to reach them. It also speaks to Programme Officers at large institutions who want to break out of project-based grantmaking and log frame evaluation models to devise a more flexible, people-centered, and effective approach to philanthropy. Grounded in real-world experience, Smart Risks combines provocative stories and reflections on successes, failures, and lessons with tips, tools, and recommendations. Call it a how-to guide with soul.

According to Tanya Cothran, the diversity of voices and the power of stories sets Smart Risks apart from other books on philanthropy. Several university professors have already expressed interest in using the book in courses on global development, and pre-sales on Amazon.com are vigorous.

Tanya, who is the Director of Spirit in Action, a small grassroots funder, said the anthology is a “testament to the many organizations that are already doing good work of connecting with local partners and supporting grassroots organizations internationally.” As co-editor, her goal has been to broadcast their stories and knowledge to people and institutions that want to contribute to a better world. “My hope is that Smart Risks will open their eyes and hearts to the possibility and potential benefit of funding grassroots organizations, and deferring to local knowledge, when they look to support empowerment in the Global South.”

If initial interest is any indication, Smart Risks may inspire both major funders and individual online donors to start using small grants to create big impact.

Smart Risks is available at Practical Action Publishing and on Amazon.

By: Mary Fifield, Principal of

 and former Executive Director of Amazon Partnerships Foundation, and a Smart Risks contributor.