How community philanthropy shifts power relations and fosters the spread of social change

This report is a collection of evidence from development workers, community-based organizations and local communities, in various areas of Romania. The first and second parts of the paper explore the power dynamics in “traditional” donor models in comparison with community philanthropy organizations. As Hilary Gilbert noted in a discussion paper commissioned by the GFCF, power relations are inherent in development work, but aspects of power are often unacknowledged or unexplored.

Starting with a theoretical perspective based on the theory of power dynamics in helping relations, the report further explores the extent to which power dynamics play out in development projects, in interviews with development professionals and leaders of community-based organizations regarding the variety of projects they’ve been involved with, the community responses to these projects and the short and long-term changes in communities.

In the third part of the paper, the focus on community philanthropy organizations is taken further, with three case studies of communities where such organizations are active. While the first two parts of the paper looked at the advantages of community philanthropy to traditional development models, in the latter part this understanding is refined by looking at how community philanthropy organizations can be most successful in bringing about change in communities. This is done by collecting data from community philanthropy organizations themselves, from their supporters and volunteers, and also from people in those communities who are not involved with the organization.

Authors: Diana Onu and Irina Pop

Published: 2020

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