Why do we need SLOW philanthropy?

 

The philanthropic sector, especially over the last 20 years, can be characterized as anything but SLOW. It has become known, especially in the tech philanthropy sector, as a place where things happen, where ideas are scalable, where change is the norm and results are evident. If anything, the sector would more likely be embodied by the word fast. Fast to take up new ideas, fast to fail, fast to turn things around, fast to act. The word SLOW therefore sounds incredibly counterintuitive and maybe a little off-putting, because who wants to be associated with doing things slowly?

 

The idea of SLOW philanthropy has its roots in the SLOW Food movement which was born in reaction to the growth and influence of fast food (to be precise the proposed opening of a McDonalds on the Spanish steps in Rome) on local cuisine and agriculture. The SLOW Food movement has now become a global movement and you can see evidence of it in farm to table restaurants, eating seasonally, knowing where food comes from, and caring about how it was treated before it arrived. People no longer want to eat the same food in Rome, Washington, and Japan, they do not want a homogenous global cuisine that is cheap but ultimately bland, tasteless, and bad for your health. One size does not in any way fit all when it comes to food and maybe also when it comes to philanthropy.

 

Using the SLOW philosophy we began reflecting on philanthropic practices globally. We have seen how many large philanthropic organizations have become much like the fast-food sector, seeking to roll out a global menu of solutions to address local problems with varying degrees of success. We have also seen how smaller philanthropic organizations have also struggled to be sustainable, to make a lasting impact, to connect with others. In our own experience, the philanthropic journey can often be a lonely one in a sector that can be more competitive than collaborative. So we asked ourselves if the philanthropic endeavor truly seeks to contribute to the public good, in whichever sector we work, what could ethical, sustainable, meaningful philanthropy look like? We then asked could we develop a framework that would help other, like-minded philanthropists to embody this and in the process to not only be more effective in our work and for our stakeholders but to be organizations that model these values internally as well.

 

The SLOW philanthropy framework is our attempt to define what we believe the best philanthropic endeavors should be doing. We believe that if a philanthropic organization does all these things then not only will they be the best in the field, but they will also be serving their stakeholders in ways that will create independent, thriving communities. SLOW provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our structures and how they can be improved upon. More than just a label, through this certification we acknowledge and act on the importance of having sustainable and open policies, as well as the importance of having a local orientation and welcoming culture. This certification also seeks to bring together the philanthropic sector and to establish SLOW as the new norm, creating synergies, and maximizing impact.