Article originally published in WINGS on June 30
By Luisa Lima, Communication and Knowledge Manager of IDIS

In a world increasingly shaped by climate disruption, technological transformation, political polarisation, and declining trust in institutions, philanthropy is being asked to rethink not only what it funds, but how it operates.

Across countries and contexts, social and environmental challenges are becoming more interconnected and more difficult to address through traditional approaches. The question facing philanthropy is no longer simply how to generate impact, but how to remain relevant in a rapidly changing landscape. A systemic approach, innovative financing mechanisms, new partnerships and bridge-building in a polarised society are a few ways philanthropy is adapting to fulfil its mission.

The latest edition of ‘Perspectives for Brazilian Philanthropy’, published by IDIS – Institute for the Development of Social Investment, offers a glimpse into how the philanthropic ecosystem is responding to this moment. While Brazil’s reality is unique, many trends emerging across the sector speak to questions that resonate globally.

One of the most significant trends in the report is the growing recognition that climate change can not be treated as a standalone issue. For many years, environmental philanthropy occupied its own space, often separate from agendas such as health, education, economic inclusion, or democracy. Today, that distinction is becoming increasingly artificial. Across Brazil, extreme weather events are affecting public services, livelihoods, food security, and community resilience. Climate is no longer just another cause; it cuts across all issues we tackle and is central to resilience. Whatever the thematic focus, organisations must be prepared to handle stress, recover from crises, and adapt to changes without losing their core mission.

This reality is pushing philanthropic organisations to rethink their strategies. The Brazilian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change, the official Brazilian chapter of the global Philanthropy For Climate movement hosted and globally coordinated by WINGS and Philea, encourages funders of all causes to integrate climate considerations into governance, investment decisions, grantmaking, and organisational practices.

Alongside climate, another issue reshaping philanthropic practice is trust. Brazil Giving Research 2024 reveals that only 30% of Brazilians consider civil society organisations to be trustworthy. This challenge is not unique to Brazil. Around the world, declining confidence in institutions, combined with misinformation and political polarisation, is making it harder to build collective responses to shared problems. In response, philanthropic actors are increasingly investing in initiatives that strengthen dialogue and social cohesion. Brasil Fala, inspired by the international programme My Country Talks, connects people with opposing political views through structured conversations. Another local initiative, Sociedade Viva, seeks to improve public understanding of civil society organisations and their role in strengthening democracy. Besides having a website with curated content and data, they run campaigns for the general public and have a specific strategy to engage the media, including a practical guide for journalists on the third sector and a list of sources on multiple causes.

These efforts point towards a growing role for philanthropy as a bridge-builder. In divided societies, rebuilding trust may be just as important as funding programmes.

This conversation about trust naturally connects to another transformation underway – the redistribution of power. Across the philanthropic sector, communities are increasingly demanding a greater voice in decisions that affect their lives. In Brazil, this has contributed to the growth of community-led approaches that place local actors at the centre of funding and governance processes. Initiatives such as Casa Socio-Environmental Fund have incorporated Indigenous leaders, traditional communities, and grassroots organisations into decision-making structures, helping ensure that funding priorities reflect local realities rather than external assumptions. The lesson extends far beyond philanthropy: sustainable solutions are often stronger when communities are recognised not just as beneficiaries, but as partners.

Technology presents another important frontier, and artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly moved from a specialised topic to a central public debate. While AI offers enormous opportunities, it also raises concerns about bias, accountability, privacy, and unequal access. Research in Brazil found that only 6% of civil society organisations report using technology in advanced ways, revealing significant disparities in access and capacity. This challenge extends beyond Brazil. Around the world, many non-profits have fewer resources to invest in digital transformation and adopt new technologies. And this is how philanthropy can be a game-changer.

Recognising this challenge, initiatives such as IA.3 – Artificial Intelligence for the Third Sector, developed by IDIS with support from Google.org and technical partnership from Canal SabIAr, are working to expand access to AI while promoting responsible and ethical use. Rather than focusing solely on technological adoption, these efforts emphasise governance, inclusion, and public benefit.

Finally, conversations about the future are increasingly shaping philanthropic agendas. According to the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025, approximately USD 9 trillion is expected to be transferred between generations in Brazil over the coming decades. This has intensified discussions about legacy, planned giving, endowments, and stewardship ownership models that connect wealth to long-term social purposes.

These conversations reflect a broader shift. Philanthropy is becoming less focused on isolated acts of generosity and more concerned with how resources, values, and responsibilities can be sustained across generations.

Taken together, these developments reveal a philanthropic ecosystem in transition. Climate change cannot be ignored; trust is becoming a strategic asset; communities are demanding greater participation; technology is creating new opportunities and risks; and new forms of capital are emerging to address increasingly complex challenges. There is no single solution. Instead, resilience is emerging through many different actions, led by diverse actors responding to an increasingly complex, rapidly changing world.

Brazilian philanthropy is not offering a blueprint for the world. What it offers instead is a set of experiments born from a deeply unequal society confronting climate disruption, technological change, and democratic pressures simultaneously. The question for global philanthropy is not whether these approaches can be replicated elsewhere, but what they reveal about the kind of relationships, institutions, and systems philanthropy will need to build in the years ahead.