Funding and Governance

Melinda Gates’ recent $12.5 billion pledge echoes MacKenzie Scott’s ongoing wave of transformative multi-billion dollar donations, offering a glimmer of hope for real change in communities around the world. This bolder approach to philanthropy has indeed shifted the focus towards impact and empowerment. However, a closer look at both Melinda and MacKenzie’s commitments reveals that a significant portion of their new-age giving still goes to established NGOs, many headquartered in the US. This raises a crucial question: what resources are left for local, small-to-medium NGOs in developing countries?