African Philanthropy Forum Newsletter
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AFRICAN PHILANTHROPY FORUM NEWSLETTER INSIDE THIS ISSUE: IFC About the 8 Dr. Manu Chandaria: Leaving a Legacy African Philanthropy Forum of Philanthropy 1 Nigerian Philanthropists Gather for 10 2016 African Philanthropy Forum APF Meeting In Lagos 14 Creating Incentives: How Do We Go From 3 Chris Stone, President of the Open Society ‘Allah Deductible’ to Tax Deductible? Foundation, Shares Perspectives with Nigerian Philanthropists 16 Special Preview of the APF Toolkit for African Philanthropists 5 APF Convenes in Nairobi 18 Chair in African Philanthropy: 7 If We Cannot Count it, Press Update August 2016 We Cannot Celebrate it! 20 African Philanthropy Forum Membership ABOUT THE AFRICAN PHILANTHROPY FORUM The African Philanthropy Forum (APF) seeks to build and continuously expand a learning community of Africa’s strategic philanthropists and social investors committed to inclusive and sustainable economic development throughout the Continent; to embed that community in a larger, global network of strategic philanthropists and development experts who share their goals; and, through educational programs and match-making services, to inform, enable, and enhance the development impact of their giving and investing. The APF is an affiliate of the Global Philanthropy Forum. Learn more from the APF in the video series Why Give, featuring APF philanthropist profiles. MISSION: • Gain visibility for their philanthropic strategies and impact • Build a learning community of African philanthropists and social investors • Serve as role models and inspiration to emerging philanthropists • Embed this community in the Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF), a strategic network of philanthropists and • Meet, collaborate and partner with other donors and development experts social investors on the Continent and across the world through the APF and GPF conferences • Enhance the impact of this network’s giving and investing through educational programs and • Meet emblematic social sector leaders with on the matchmaking ground experience whom they can fund • Guide the development and direction of the APF as a KEY ACTIVITIES: peer-led organization • One-on-one outreach to current and emerging African philanthropists to introduce them to the APF and the PARTICIPATION IN THE APF IS: GPF • By invitation only • The convening of an invitation-only conference in • Open to emerging and established African donors and Africa every 12–18 months to bring together current social investors who have made, or plan to make, a and emerging African philanthropists, grantmakers and significant commitment to philanthropy social investors • Intended to be Pan-African • Regional outreach events throughout the year for current and prospective members BACKGROUND: • Invitations to the annual Global Philanthropy Forum • APF is affiliated with the Global Philanthropy Forum, Conference held in the US a global community of donors and social investors • Matchmaking services among donors and grantmakers. committed to international causes • APF is guided by a small core cadre of African APF ENABLES MEMBERS TO: philanthropists with support from an Africa-based • Foster the growth of strategic philanthropy on the Director and the Global Philanthropy Forum Continent • The first APF planning meeting took place in Addis • Learn about philanthropic investment opportunities and Ababa, Ethiopia in 2014. A second conference was held tested strategies from peers and leaders in the field of in Kigali, Rwanda in 2015 development and social investment on the Continent and elsewhere NIGERIAN PHILANTHROPISTS GATHER FOR APF MEETING IN LAGOS Suzy Antounian, Onari Duke, Prof. Leslye Obiora, Ndidi Nwuneli and Stephanie Linus The African Philanthropy Forum (APF) organized its first convening in Nigeria on June 10, 2016 at the George Hotel in Lagos. This event provided a private setting for a small group of emerging and established philanthropists to gather to learn from one another’s work and to share insights for strengthening individual and collective efforts to transform Nigeria. The event in Lagos featured remarks from a range of speakers who challenged Nigerian philanthropists to become more structured and strategic in their giving and to seek strategies to make their giving more impactful—be it on an individual level or a collaborative level—so that collectively they can have a transformative effect on the lives they are touching. Suzy Antounian, Chief Operating Officer of the Global Philanthropy Forum noted that, “Giving is strongly rooted in Africa and is integral to its many cultures. Giving is also in response to local and national needs which can vary from country to country depending on legislation and the enabling environment. Therefore, our focus is not to emphasize the need to give or to discuss the specific legal framework in a given country but rather to look at tested strategies for giving in a number of issue areas—be it education, health, nutrition, or any number of other issues to enable donors to be more strategic in their choices and their philanthropy.” According to Hakeem Belo-Osagie, one of Nigeria’s pioneering philanthropists, “there are two types of people in the world—those with opportunities and those without. It is our job to make opportunities available to them just as we have been given.” Underscoring the importance of working together, Aisha Oyebode, the CEO of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, challenged the attendees to “share the burden of transforming lives, and also to share the joy!” Using Bangladesh and the life of BRAC’s founder, Fazle Abed as a case study, keynote speaker Professor Leslye Obiora illustrated how an individual armed with the courage of conviction was able to transform his country. Obiora emphasized the need for a sustainable network and platform for effective philanthropy in Nigeria, reinforcing the critical role for the APF. APF Newsletter September 2016 • page 1 NIGERIAN PHILANTHROPISTS GATHER FOR APF MEETING IN LAGOS “There are two types of In her closing remarks, Ndidi Nwuneli, who in addition to her work as a social entrepreneur serves as the director of the APF, encouraged more people in the world— Nigerian philanthropists to join the APF and participate at its annual those with opportunities convening in Rabat, Morocco on October 17–18, 2016. She noted that the theme for the 2016 meeting was “Taking Big Bets and Bold Steps,” and those without. and it would explore the role of philanthropists in leading large scale It is our job to make change on the African Continent so as to seek ways for greater impact beyond incremental steps. opportunities available The event was attended by a range of philanthropists and social to them just as we have investors including Gloria Atta and Sunday Udo of the TY Danjuma been given.” Foundation; Zouera Youssoufou of the Dangote Foundation; Onari Duke, of the Nigeria Philanthropy Forum; actress and social activist – Hakeem Belo-Osagie Stephanie Okereke Linus, the Founder of the Extended Hands Foundation; Dr. Tony Rapu, the Senior Pastor of This Present House and founder of the Freedom Foundation; Gbenga Oyebode SAN; Chinedu Okpareke of Sahara; Dr. Ike Chioke of Afrinvest; Nimi Akinkugbe of the Ajumogobia Science Foundation; Dr. Owens Wiwa of CHAI; Chief Taiwo Taiwo of the Aart of Life Foundation; Simon Kolawole of the Cable; and many other distinguished individuals. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Gloria Atta, Ndidi Nwuneli, Suzy Antounian and Sunday Udo APF Newsletter September 2016 • page 2 CHRIS STONE, PRESIDENT OF THE OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION, SHARES PERSPECTIVES WITH NIGERIAN PHILANTHROPISTS On June 10th, the Ford Foundation Office of West Africa hosted a lunch for Nigerian philanthropists to meet with Chris Stone, the President of the Open Society Foundation, during his visit to Lagos. Established by investor and philanthropist George Soros, the Open Society Foundations works in more than 100 countries across the globe to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. Stone, a former Professor of the Practice of Criminal Justice at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, assumed the role of president of the Open Society Foundations in 2012. A speaker at the Global Philanthropic Forum (GPF) and supporter of the APF, Prof. Stone was delighted to engage with African philanthropists to share his experience running one of the world’s leading foundations. During the lunch, Prof. Stone shared some unique insights and responded to questions raised by the philanthropists. Some of the key themes included the following: EVOLVING LANDSCAPE FOR FOUNDATIONS: Prof. Stone noted that there is a growing trend for foundations to provide grants rather than direct services. According to him, this trend can be seen across the philanthropic landscape in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. He also stated that he had observed a similar global trend in which foundations focused initially on social issues such as health and education but have gradually expanded their lens to include good governance. ENDOWMENTS: Prof. Stone outlined some benefits and drawbacks of endowments. He stated that the presence of healthy endowments enables foundations to act quickly and support unpopular projects, but also said they can sometimes make foundations complacent. He noted that some continuous fundraising is helpful because it compels organizations to continue to persuade others of the merits of their ideas in order to generate funds for their activities. APF Newsletter September