The Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS) is a network of over 100 philanthropy associations and support organizations in 40 countries around the world whose purpose is to strengthen, promote and provide leadership on the development of philanthropy and social investment. Together WINGS members and network participants represent over 100,000 philanthropic entities from all regions, mobilizing billions of dollars .
International Meeting of Associations Serving Grantmakers (IMAG) in Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1998, brought together philanthropy professionals from 25 countries to engage in skills enhancement programming. The meeting led to discussions around creating one network to be an advocate, information broker, convener and advisor to the grantmaker associations and support organizations, and finally to the formation of WINGS.
MISSION & VISION
WINGS is a global network of grantmaker associations and philanthropic support organizations. WINGS strengthens, promotes and provides leadership on the development of philanthropy and social investment around the world. WINGS gives voice to the many cultures of giving and provides its members and other participants with information, knowledge, and peer exchange. Their vision is of a strong, global philanthropic community that strives to build more equitable and just societies around the world.
VALUES
Their work is guided by seven central values and principles:
The core members of WINGS are networks and associations of grantmakers as well as leading philanthropy support and resource organizations. Together with WINGS, the members are building a wider, more inclusive movement for philanthropy that connects traditional foundations with community foundations, development grantmakers, business and corporate social investors, venture philanthropists, philanthropy advisers and professionals, and private philanthropists.
