Grassroots Giving

Grassroots Grantmaking

Field Note: New Data on the "Economics" of Localizing Aid

March 2025

|

Proximate

November 2024

March 2025

|

Proximate

Supported By :

In Partnership With:

The first Passing The Buck report, released in 2022 by the Share Trust and Warande Advisory Centre, was a unique effort to put a dollar amount on the cost of bureaucracy in international aid.
The report found that local leaders receiving dollars directly could deliver programming that is 32% more cost efficient than iNGOs, by stripping out overhead and salary costs. That would equate to roughly $4 billion dollars in annual savings.
The latest iteration zooms in on four countries: Ukraine, Nigeria, and the Middle East. Speaking about the report at the DevEx World conference in October, the Share Trust's Courtenay Cabot Venton told the audience the aid world needs to read this data: “It’s still politicians or celebrities showing up and saying 'Here’s how we’ll solve your problem.'"

- BW

No items found.

Related reads

No items found.

Como o Fundo Casa direciona recursos para as organizações de base no Brasil

Como o Fundo Casa direciona recursos para as organizações de base no Brasil

Como o Fundo Casa direciona recursos para as organizações de base no Brasil

Maria Amália Souza está tentando mudar a forma como o dinheiro flui para proteger a Amazônia

Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil

Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil

Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil

We read several recent reports on shifting power in philanthropy – and pulled out the highlights

Filantropia na blockchain

Filantropia na blockchain

Filantropia na blockchain

A fundadora da Grapevine fala sobre como os DAOs e os círculos de doação se cruzam cada vez mais

Imperial Valley’s New Endowment – and What It Represents

Imperial Valley’s New Endowment – and What It Represents

Imperial Valley’s New Endowment – and What It Represents

Why one California foundation chose to shift assets — not just grants — to a more proximate foundation

A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking

A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking

A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking

Twelve research papers shine a light on participatory models and approaches

Five Questions for John Hecklinger

Five Questions for John Hecklinger

Five Questions for John Hecklinger

We spoke with the Global Fund for Children’s co-CEO about participatory grantmaking and more

Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil

Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil

Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil

We read several recent reports on shifting power in philanthropy – and pulled out the highlights

A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking

A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking

A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking

Twelve research papers shine a light on participatory models and approaches

Field Note: Participatory democracy isn’t just for governments

Participatory democracy isn’t just for governments

NGO People Powered demonstrates how member-based organizations can use participatory democracy to determine how to allocate its budget.

No items found.

Proximate is an independent media platform covering movements for participatory problem-solving. We look at the news through the lens of money: how it’s given away, how it’s invested, and how it’s distributed by government.
We are a fiscally sponsored project of Movement Strategy Center.

Get Our Monthly Issues

Proximate

© 2025 PROXIMATE ® ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.