Peter McKenzie Project - Seeing Philanthropy in a New Light
People and organisations are continuously experimenting with new ideas and strategies. Funders are no different, and some are seeing philanthropy in a new light. It’s from this standpoint that the concept of ‘participatory philanthropy’ has emerged.
This approach actively engages ngā kaikōkiri, or the leaders and champions who work to create a better life for their communities, in the grantmaking process. It’s about sharing control and working together on the big decisions; and acknowledging that much of the expertise and know-how rests with the communities that philanthropic organisations are aiming to support. It recognises that it’s short-sighted to exclude the people best placed to understand what’s really needed from the strategy, process, and decision-making. Ultimately, it places high value on robust conversations, cooperation and mutual accountability, so that upstream solutions can be found to the big issues facing society today.
The Peter McKenzie Project (PMP) has embarked on the next step in its ongoing experimental journey by looking at how it can incorporate participatory philanthropy into its funding approach. In February 2021, ngā kaikōkiri and the PMP Committee gathered for a Mahi Tahi (working together as one) hui in Mana Retreat in the Coromandel. Together, they discussed whether there was an appetite for involvement in this type of philanthropy, and if the answer was yes, then what could it look like. It was important to recognise the different perspectives and ensure that any future developments reflected these, while also supporting ngā kaikōkiri to get on with their individual programmes of work.
Mahi Tahi Hui Participants at Mana Retreat in the Coromandel
Because these community leaders and the PMP Committee are already working together towards a common vision and are helping to shape the strategic direction of PMP, it felt like this was a natural evolution in the interdependent relationship that already exists between all parties. It was agreed that a more participatory approach could help accelerate the work needed to enable whānau to live free from poverty, while also helping to identify emerging issues and innovative ways to counteract them.
“Giving this a go is the next logical step in our journey. We are thrilled that ngā kaikōkiri are willing to share their creativity, experience and insight; it can only increase our ‘collective brain’ and add value to our overall effort. We are also keen to explore how we can authentically share control of the project with these outstanding leaders. It’s the right thing to do – they are, after all, more important to the project’s success than we are; and the potentially long-term relationship we are in together provides us with an opportunity to give this a solid trial. Acknowledging that participatory philanthropy can have a variety of shades of meaning, we feel that the version we’re exploring is a good fit within the PMP context,” says Iain Hines, Director, PMP.
The September Mahi Tahi hui has been postponed for now due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it will focus on how a move to a greater participatory approach might be structured. This system of grantmaking promotes diversity, equity and inclusion, and for these reasons alone, it instinctively seems to fit with the ethos of both ngā kaikōkiri and PMP.