• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • News
    • Philanthropy

    From more risk to less control, philanthropy is rethinking how it works

    With foreign aid cuts and political scrutiny rising, philanthropy finds itself at a crossroads. Can it step up to meet the moment?

    By Kate Warren // 13 March 2025

    With government funding drying up and political scrutiny of nonprofits increasing, all eyes are on philanthropy to step up. But that also means the sector is under pressure to adapt, innovate, and maximize its impact — whether it’s stomaching more risk or handing over more control to communities.

    At South by Southwest, or SXSW, in Austin, Texas, this week, philanthropy leaders convened for a series of discussions — both onstage and behind closed doors — acknowledging that change is needed to meet the moment.

    While philanthropy alone cannot fill the gaps left by shrinking government coffers, funders are increasingly being called on to align their endowment investments with their missions to ensure their dollars go further. "If you’re not thinking about aligning your investing dollars with your mission, then you’re leaving a huge social change lever on the sidelines," said Sarah Haacke Byrd, CEO of Women Moving Millions.

    This article is free to read - just register or sign in

    Access news, newsletters, events and more.

    Join usSign in

    More reading:

    ► As aid dwindles, can philanthropy rewrite the rules of giving? (Pro)

    ► US foreign aid has collapsed. How should philanthropy respond? (Pro)

    ► As the US retreats from climate finance, can philanthropy fill the gap?

    • Funding
    • Private Sector
    • Humanitarian Aid
    • Social/Inclusive Development
    • Ford Foundation
    • Women Moving Millions
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).

    About the author

    • Kate Warren

      Kate Warren@KateDWarren

      Kate Warren is the Executive Vice President and Executive Editor of Devex, where she leads a global team of journalists, event producers, and communications and marketing professionals to drive conversations around the most pressing and urgent issues of our time, including climate, global health, food security, philanthropy, humanitarian crises, and foreign aid funding. Through live journalism — via in-person and virtual events — along with insider news, analysis, podcasts, content series, and special reports, Kate and her team ensure the most important ideas, voices, and debates reach an influencer audience to drive impact and make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Search for articles

    Related Stories

    Devex NewswireDevex Newswire: Trump’s loyalty test challenges UN and NGO neutrality

    Devex Newswire: Trump’s loyalty test challenges UN and NGO neutrality

    Devex Pro LivePhilanthropy, blended finance, and the evolving role of NGOs

    Philanthropy, blended finance, and the evolving role of NGOs

    PhilanthropyAs aid dwindles, can philanthropy rewrite the rules of giving?

    As aid dwindles, can philanthropy rewrite the rules of giving?

    PhilanthropyUS foreign aid has collapsed. How should philanthropy respond?

    US foreign aid has collapsed. How should philanthropy respond?

    Most Read

    • 1
      How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
    • 2
      Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
    • 3
      The UN's changing of the guard
    • 4
      Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
    • 5
      USAID's humanitarian bureau is under pressure and overstretched
    • News
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Talent
    • Events

    Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

    A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

    • About us
    • Membership
    • Newsletters
    • Advertising partnerships
    • Devex Talent Solutions
    • Post a job
    • Careers at Devex
    • Contact us
    © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement