WINGS

12/08/2026

Are you based in Montréal and looking for a meaningful volunteer experience this September?

is an international conference bringing together associations, networks, funders, academic centres, and support organisations from across the world to learn, network, and challenge the sector to make a greater impact. It takes place 28-30 September in Montréal.

We are looking for volunteers to support the smooth running of the forum. Roles include information desk, registration and badge distribution, Garden of Experimentation support, press and AV support, and session coordination. Volunteers work 6-hour shifts and have the opportunity to attend sessions during their alternate shift. Lunch and coffee breaks are provided on site.

This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on international event experience and connect with philanthropy leaders from around the world, right here in Montréal.

Applications close 15 August.

For more information: https://ow.ly/kUhN50Zt6Fe

Apply here: https://ow.ly/mJjI50Zt6Ff

10/08/2026

The pressures on civil society are well documented. What is less discussed is what they mean for how philanthropy operates.

Ariadne’s 2026 Forecast for European Social Change and Human Rights Funders takes that question seriously. Drawing on insights from around 130 philanthropic leaders, practitioners, and partners across Europe, it offers a forward-looking reflection on the changing environment for civil society and , identifying the strategic questions, risks, and opportunities likely to shape the sector in the years ahead.

A central theme runs throughout: as civic space narrows, philanthropic space narrows with it. The Forecast explores how philanthropy can strengthen democratic resilience, not only through what it resources, but through how it operates and the role it plays within wider democratic ecosystems.

Download the full report here: https://ow.ly/M1nL50ZwwN1

06/08/2026

Press freedom is not a media issue. It is a democracy issue. And democracy is the foundation on which everything philanthropy works towards is built.

Maria Ressa will be joining us at WINGSForum 2026 to bring that argument into the room.

Co-founder and CEO of Rappler a leading digital news site fighting for press freedom in the Philippines, Maria was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. In 2026, she was appointed Co-Chair of the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. She is also a Professor of Practice at Columbia University and author of the bestseller How to Stand Up to a Dictator.

takes place 28-30 September in Montreal, Canada.

Join us: https://wingsforum.org/register/

24/07/2026

🌍 joins the growing movement.

Congratulations to TUSEV (Third Sector Foundation of Türkiye) and the Sabancı Vakfı on launching the Türkiye Commitment to Combat .

With 30 founding signatories, the commitment provides a shared framework for philanthropic organisations across Türkiye to integrate climate into their governance, programmes, operations, and funding decisions.

🇹🇷 The Türkiye National Commitment is the 13th Commitment worldwide, joining a growing network of national and regional commitments helping philanthropy embed across all mission areas.

Together, the movement now brings together 992 signatories around the world, demonstrating the growing momentum for collective climate action across .

Together, we call on all foundations, regardless of their mission, status, or geographic location, to join us and signal their commitment to climate action.

Learn more about the Türkiye Commitment here: https://iklimicinfilantropi.org.tr/

22/07/2026

🌏The Asia-Pacific region is home to diverse cultures of giving, growing philanthropic resources, and approaches that can offer important lessons to the global field. Yet many of these perspectives remain underrepresented in global discussions.

The WINGS Asia-Pacific Working Group was established to strengthen connections across the region, create opportunities for shared learning, and ensure that Asia-Pacific voices help shape conversations about the future of philanthropy.

One year since its launch, members of the Working Group will come together in New Delhi, India, on 23–24 August for its 2026 Annual Regional Convening. Together, they’ll explore issues including learning from failure, the use of data, enabling conditions for effective philanthropy, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and movement funding.

As the global landscape continues to shift, the convening will create space to consider what stronger collaboration can make possible for philanthropy in Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing perspectives from participants as they reflect on the opportunities and challenges shaping across the region.

📩 To learn more about the WINGS Asia-Pacific Working Group, contact [email protected].

22/07/2026

As debate grows about how AI may reshape philanthropy, the question is not only where new resources might come from. It is also whether social sector organisations and the ecosystems around them are ready.

Earlier this year, our member Pacta explored what AI adoption looks like across India’s social sector. The article looks beyond the technology itself to consider the roles of funders, nonprofits, intermediaries and policymakers, as well as the risks related to capacity, access, governance and power.

These are exactly the kinds of conversations we need as philanthropy navigates a rapidly changing world. At WINGSForum, leaders from across the globe will come together to explore the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of philanthropy.

In the meantime, we recommend PACTA's thoughtful analysis:

AI Adoption in India’s Social Sector: Ecosystem Roles, Risks, and the Path Forward 28 January 2026 REGION: Asia-Pacific By Nivedita Krishna, Director-Founder, Pacta  Photo credit: Easy-Peasy.AI India’s social sector is at an inflexion point. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping secto...

13/07/2026

Many foundations want to engage on climate change but struggle with where to begin.
The challenge is often less about intention and more about structure, confidence, and capacity.

Findings from the Philanthropy For Climate: State of the Movement Report 2026 suggest that shared frameworks and peer learning can help foundations move from awareness toward action.

Among signatories, 88% say participation in the movement strengthened their awareness and climate action.

Reflect on your foundation's journey and see how a structured approach can accelerate your progress. And contact us if you’d like to talk: philanthropyforclimate.org

Read the full report here: https://wings.issuelab.org/resource/philanthropy-for-climate-state-of-the-movement-report-2026.html

09/07/2026

🌍 is not simply another issue competing for philanthropy’s attention. It shapes many of the challenges is already working to address.

From health and inequality to migration and community resilience, the connections are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. In a new op-ed for Alliance Magazine, WINGS' Benjamin Bellegy and Philea's Delphine Moralis argue that responding to climate change can also be a catalyst for philanthropy to become more collaborative, adaptive, and interconnected.

Our first-ever : The State of the Movement report shows this shift is already underway. Among more than 450 responding signatories, 98% are making progress on their climate commitments, integrating climate considerations across governance, grantmaking, investments, and operations.

The question is no longer whether a foundation's mission overlaps with climate, but how can strengthen and advance that mission.

Read the op-ed to explore why climate action can strengthen philanthropy as a whole: https://www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/from-climate-action-to-stronger-philanthropy/

06/07/2026

Speaking out on climate change can feel risky for foundations acting alone.

Boards and staff may worry about political sensitivities, public scrutiny, or stepping out beyond their traditional role.

Today, only around 1 in 3 signatories have shared their progress publicly.

Yet the Philanthropy For Climate: State of the Movement Report 2026 highlights transparency as a key pillar for movement growth, learning, and sector credibility.

In a complex and evolving context, collective approaches matter. Aggregated reporting helps mitigate risks while enabling foundations to continue learning and acting together.

Read the full report here: https://wings.issuelab.org/resource/philanthropy-for-climate-state-of-the-movement-report-2026.html

Learn more about the movement and join us: philanthropyforclimate.org

02/07/2026

What would it take to fund disability organisations not just as service providers, but as institutions that need space to grow, learn, and lead?

In a new piece for WINGS, Susan Job from Pacta examines the funding challenges facing disability organisations in India and makes the case for more flexible, trust-based philanthropy.

The article explores why long-term resilience depends not only on programmes, but also on investing in leadership, governance, fundraising, and organisational capacity.

A thoughtful contribution to wider conversations on trust-based philanthropy and disability inclusion.

👉 Read the full piece: https://wingswebmembers.org/indias-disability-sector-funding-fragility-and-the-role-of-philanthropy/