7 lessons learnt during the pandemic?

Every year Next Genration publishes a research report for the grantmaking, social investment, humanitarian, philanthropy and development sector focusing on trends That is, until 2020 happened!2021 was a year of reflection – and here is what we learnt. Lesson 1: Complexity requires clear strategy Whilst 2020 required rapid responses to several issues all at once – to survive the pandemic, …

TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: Philanthropy and grantmaking 2030

No one can argue that 2020 and 2021 have been difficult years. Even more so for those of us that work in the humanitarian ecosystem.  Not only did we have to abandon well-crafted long-term strategies to respond to the human crises resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, but we had to change the way we operate and collaborate.  Much has been …

Pensive young woman planning and thinking in front of laptop

Reimagining A Future For Corporate Social Investment

We are entering a new world order and future blockbusters and documentaries about the past will probably refer to the eras before coronavirus (BC) and after coronavirus (AC). Whatever your worldview, it is now clear from the world’s collective experiences and expectations of the future that it will be about restructuring the economic, environmental and social order in which business, …

Diverse professionals touching hands around a table

Blended Finance

Innovative and blended finance as a route to greater social impact and sustainabilityThere are three ways in which private resources can be harnessed for meeting societal needs: Through charitable giving and philanthropy Through corporate social responsibility programmes Through the latest arrival in the marketplace for doing good – impact investing. Social finance is a rapidly growing industry – the number …

Woman meditating with money all around her

Are You Ready for the Money? Capital Generation Options

Because I’ve been working in the social investment and development sector for more than 20 years, sometimes it feels like I’ve seen everything. Yet, whilst I get impatient with the time it takes to see meaningful change occur, I’m amazed at the resilience of the sector—to beat the odds time and again. What is starting to get to me though, …

Diverse business men and women ready to run a race

The good, the bad and the ugly of pitching for funding

A new trend is sweeping the globe, the advent of the challenge fund which invites social entrepreneurs who are pitching for funding in a competition space. From Barloworld’s Mbewu programme which will see R30 million awarded to social innovators who face off in “The Big Pitch” through to SAB’s Social Innovation Award which has invested R44 million to support 144 …

Fingers touching a display that says "think differently"

Rethinking the funding of NGOs

The Next Generation Research Report 2020, Disruption with Impact dived deep into how the development sector, and how the funding of NGOs, is changing. Some of the most significant pressures that organisations face is the demand to become more professional and business-like in their operations. This in turns put greater emphasis on adopting cutting-edge evaluation, incorporating innovative technology and putting …