Philea Forum 2025 brought together some of the most forward-thinking minds in philanthropy—and we at The Partnering Initiative were thrilled to be part of it.
Together with Laudes Foundation, WINGS, and Philea, we launched our new philanthropy sector needs assessment, Building foundations for collaborative transformation, exploring what’s required for philanthropy to step into its full potential as a force for systemic change.
Following so many rich conversations, roundtables, and breakout sessions, here are our top three takeaways from Philea Forum 2025:
1. Philanthropy is moving beyond traditional funding
The appetite for transformative action is growing. Throughout the conference—both in formal sessions and informal conversations—there was clear and repeated interest in reimaging the role of philanthropy.
From multi-stakeholder partnerships to systems change, philanthropy is moving well beyond simply writing cheques. There’s an emerging belief that funders must act as convenors, collaborators, and co-creators—bringing in other sectors, sharing power, and helping to catalyse systemic change.
2. ‘Systems Change’ means different things to different people
For some, systems change means practical, targeted transformation—such as localised shifts in agricultural production towards more sustainable practices. For others, systems change is about completely reimagining global economic and social structures. This breadth of interpretation can make it difficult to align around action.
As a sector, we urgently need to build a shared language. If we want philanthropy to genuinely influence systems, we must be intentional about what kind of change we are pursuing, and how we work together to achieve it.
3. Collaboration is the future—but it’s also a challenge
Collaboration is non-negotiable. The scale and complexity of today’s challenges demand that no single actor—or even sector—can solve them alone. Funders must pool resources, align goals, and engage meaningfully with stakeholders beyond philanthropy.
But partnering is not easy. It takes time, trust, and a shift in mindset. As more organisations embrace collaboration, there’s growing recognition that success depends on being institutionally optimised for partnering.
Moving from inspiration to action
The mindset shift towards more transformational philanthropy is underway.
On an individual level, participants are clearly committed to working collaboratively towards making the philanthropy sector as impactful as possible.
The challenge now lies in channelling that intent, to move this commitment from the individual to organisational. Without embedding new approaches into systems, cultures, and practices, the potential for real change will remain unrealised.
TRANSFORM!
That’s where our TRANSFORM! initiative comes in. Together with WINGS and Philea, we’re helping the philanthropy sector not just to aspire to transformation—but to act on it.
Philea Forum 2025 was an energising reminder of what’s possible when people come together with purpose. Now, the real work begins: embedding the inspiration of the conference into action and structure, within organisations and across the sector.
At TPI, we’re here to support that journey—so we can build, together, the foundations for real, lasting change.
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