By Darian Stibbe and James Chapman.
“The greatest strength of philanthropy is also its greatest weakness” – Richard Marker of the Institute for Wise Philanthropy
Can two seemingly different worlds—government and philanthropy—work together to drive systemic change? At a recent G20 Regional Policy Dialogue in Rio de Janeiro, TPI’s Darian Stibbe explored how these sectors can move beyond their cultural and positional differences to achieve impactful change. The event, co-hosted by WINGS and Latimpacto, and The Partnering Initiative (TPI), provided a platform to address these pressing issues.
At first glance, it may seem impossible for philanthropy and government to work together effectively — their cultural and positional differences appear too great. Governments, bound by bureaucratic processes and accountable to the public, are inherently risk-averse and slow-moving. In contrast, philanthropy operates with autonomy, taking risks and testing innovative solutions with significantly less public accountability. This foundational divide fuels wariness on both sides, hindering collaboration.
Yet these differences should not be viewed as weaknesses. Instead, they offer powerful complementarity, presenting an opportunity to drive real systems change. Philanthropy’s higher risk tolerance and agility enable it to pilot innovative approaches that governments, once convinced of their efficacy, can institutionalise and scale. For instance, philanthropic organisations have funded experimental programs in fields ranging from education, to healthcare, to climate change, many of which have been later adopted by governments and implemented at scale (check out our PPPP library for more examples of public-private-philanthropy partnerships).
As detailed in our recent blog The critical role of government in partnerships for sustainable development, while partnerships may not always require government involvement at the outset, long-term sustainability, scalability, and institutionalisation often depend on government participation. Philanthropy can act as a proving ground, de-risking investments and demonstrating the viability of new approaches before they are integrated into public systems.
Given the transformative potential of public-philanthropy partnerships, how can these sectors align for successful collaboration? The path forward requires building an enabling environment that fosters mutual understanding and respect. Key elements include:
- Developing appropriate policies and procedures: Governments can create liaison offices dedicated to engaging with philanthropic partners, while philanthropy can align its strategies with public priorities.
- Building organisational partnering capacity: Both sectors must invest in training and resources to enhance their ability to collaborate effectively.
- Creating platforms for ongoing dialogue and collaboration: Regular communication ensures alignment and trust.
- Acknowledging strengths and weaknesses: Philanthropy must respect government’s democratic mandate and understand that bureaucratic processes are often necessary to safeguard public resources. Governments, in turn, can embrace philanthropy’s ability to innovate and act swiftly.
Philanthropy must strategically engage in areas where its unique characteristics add the most value—whether through de-risking investments, building coalitions, or piloting new approaches. Governments, by understanding philanthropy’s strengths, can align efforts with shared priorities, ensuring that resources and innovations are directed where they are most needed.
As we race to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, we cannot afford to leave any resources or capabilities untapped. When government and philanthropy work together effectively—each playing to their strengths while respecting their differences—they can achieve far more than either could alone.
The key lies not in trying to eliminate the differences between these sectors, but in understanding how to harness them productively. As Richard Marker’s observation suggests, philanthropy’s distinctive characteristics are both its greatest asset and its greatest challenge in working with government. Success comes from embracing this paradox and building bridges that allow both sectors to contribute their unique value to achieving shared goals.
Read more:
The critical role of government in partnerships for sustainable development
Systems change activation: the essential role of philanthropy to unleash the power of PPPPs
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