As we enter 2025, philanthropic networks worldwide are responding to an unprecedented convergence of challenges. The closing of civic space—from increased regulatory pressures in the Netherlands to financial restrictions in the United States—adds further to the exacerbation of the polycrisis, threatening the vital work of nonprofit organizations globally. This reality demands not just adaptation, but transformation in how philanthropy operates.

Global philanthropic networks are already pioneering innovative responses:

-The WINGS Network’s Philanthropy Transformation Initiative (PTI) brings together support organizations, academic centers, and funders to fundamentally rethink philanthropic practices in the face of existential challenges.

– Philea’s work on “philanthropy at a crossroads” emphasizes futures thinking as essential to effective giving.

– The Independent Philanthropy Association South Africa (IPASA) drives conversations about reimagining philanthropy in the Global South. – Ploughshares addressing human and planetary security in a time of polycrisis. – The One Project serving the needs of communities in the ecosystem transition towards a post-capitalist humanitarian future. These diverse approaches share a common thread: the recognition that effective philanthropy requires both global perspective and local responsiveness. Rather than becoming paralyzed by complexity, these networks are developing practical ways to strengthen civil society’s resilience.