From rhetoric to practice: What it takes for international funders to shift power to communities

Despite growing demands and growing awareness about the importance of shifting power, progress has been slow, particularly among international organizations such as foundations, bilateral agencies and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). These institutions continue to control the majority of capital – determining where resources flow, under what conditions, and through which systems and processes. This raises critical questions:

• In light of growing demands to shift power, why has change among funders been so limited?
• What can be done to help funders meaningfully shift power?

This research study contributes to answering these questions by exploring: why and how funders begin to shift power, the barriers and enablers that shape their journeys, and strategies that are effective in helping them make progress. The research was grounded in consultations and interviews with 17 respondents from funder organizations, 10 respondents from Global South civil society organizations, and four sector practitioners, and was supported by a rapid review of the literature.

The findings from this study are relevant for those who are actively working to shift funder mindsets and practices, including foundation leaders and staff, civil society leaders, philanthropic support organizations and funder networks, consultants and philanthropic advisors.

Author: Sadaf Shallwani, with research support from Ronald Kimambo

Published by: Giving for Change alliance

Published: November 2025

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