Dion Chang, a global trends forecaster and the founder of Flux Trends.Photo from CAPSI
In a fast-changing world, foresight is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. As the 6th African Philanthropy Conference kicks off on July 27, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt, that principle is front and center.
The gathering, themed “Sustainable Financing for Development in the Majority World,” brings together a dynamic mix of practitioners, funders, scholars, and changemakers to reimagine Africa’s philanthropic future.
Among the featured voices is Dion Chang, a globally respected trends forecaster and the founder of Flux Trends.
While the specific focus of Chang’s address has not been publicly confirmed, his inclusion as a speaker signals a clear intention: to challenge the philanthropic sector to think beyond convention, anticipate change.
And stay ahead of global shifts that are already reshaping how giving, investment, and development happen across Africa.
A Futurist Rooted in Foresight, Not Hindsight
Dion Chang has built a nearly 30-year career on identifying emerging signals of change and translating them into strategies for business, governance, and development.
Unlike traditional analysts who lean heavily on historical data, Chang’s work centers on foresight, a discipline focused on anticipating future disruptions and mapping strategic responses in advance.
His insights have helped organizations prepare for systemic shocks, adapt to rapid technological shifts, and unlock opportunities in times of uncertainty.
For the African philanthropy sector, now grappling with questions of sustainability, equity, and relevance, this kind of thinking offers critical value.
The T.R.E.N.D.S. Framework: Making Sense of a Complex World
At the core of Chang’s work is a proprietary framework known as T.R.E.N.D.S., which distills six interconnected drivers of change:
- Technology
- Retail
- Economy
- Natural World
- Diplomacy
- Social and Cultural Trends
This model helps institutions understand the broader context in which they operate.
For example, philanthropic actors navigating Africa’s sustainable development goals must now consider how AI is transforming civic engagement, how the climate crisis is disrupting traditional funding priorities, or how global diplomacy is influencing resource flows.
Chang’s framework doesn’t offer prediction—it offers perspective.
It highlights how seemingly isolated changes are part of larger patterns, and it challenges decision-makers to operate from a place of connected awareness rather than a siloed response.
Why Generation Z Matters for the Future of Giving
One of Chang’s most focused areas of work is the rising influence of Generation Z.
Over the past decade, he has explored how this digital-first, values-driven generation is transforming economies, culture, and leadership.
What makes Gen Z distinct is not just their comfort with technology, it’s their worldview.
They expect transparency, demand ethical leadership, and often blur the lines between personal values and public action.
As this generation begins to assume greater social, political, and economic power, Chang argues that institutions must evolve or risk losing relevance.
As far back as 2015, Chang shared an insight that now reads as remarkably prescient:
“Specifically, your Gen Zs are the generation that is going to be the changemakers… Gen Zs more than Millennials are going into government and policy making at a much earlier age… so you have a generation that is passionate about social justice, social barometers, climate change, etc., everything moving a lot quicker into corridors of power to be able to make change and not just protest from afar.”— Dion Chang, Flux Trends (2015)
Ten years later, that foresight has materialized. Gen Z is increasingly stepping into leadership and decision-making roles across the continent.
For philanthropy, this demands a rethinking of how young people are engaged, not as beneficiaries, but as partners and co-creators in designing sustainable futures.
Chang’s insights on Gen Z offer timely prompts for African funders and networks eager to build inclusive and future-fit strategies.
Challenging Assumptions and Exposing Blind Spots
Dion Chang is often described as a “professional cage rattler.” That’s because his approach isn’t just about mapping change—it’s about confronting stagnation.
He is known for pointing out institutional blind spots, asking hard questions, and pushing leaders to consider whether their assumptions are still valid in today’s world.
This mindset is especially relevant in philanthropy, where many structures and models still reflect 20th-century thinking.
As the sector increasingly explores alternatives like impact investing, green bonds, ESG integration, and community-led financing, there is growing recognition that old formulas may no longer meet today’s challenges—or tomorrow’s.
Chang’s work encourages organizations to stop reacting and start reimagining: What would truly resilient, locally rooted, and future-ready philanthropy look like in Africa?
A Strategic Voice Within African Philanthropy
Chang is not new to this space. He currently serves in an advisory role at the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at WITS University, one of the conveners of the African Philanthropy Conference.
His involvement reflects a commitment not just to foresight but to helping shape the practical pathways through which philanthropic and social investment sectors in Africa can grow stronger, more autonomous, and more adaptive.
His consistent message has been clear: sustainable financing must move beyond dependency.
It must be built on long-term thinking, local leadership, and the ability to adapt to external shocks without compromising mission or impact.
These are not abstract ideas—they are the building blocks of a sector ready to lead in the Majority World.
Looking Ahead: What Chang’s Participation Signals
Though the exact details of Dion Chang’s session at the 6th African Philanthropy Conference remain undisclosed, the significance of his role is already apparent.
His presence signals a deliberate effort to integrate foresight into African philanthropy’s planning and to equip participants with the tools to better understand and influence the forces shaping their operating environment.
By drawing attention to the velocity of global change, the power of generational shifts, and the critical need for systems-level adaptability, Chang’s contribution will help:
- Encourage anticipatory thinking in strategy and funding models
- Highlight emerging opportunities in sustainable financing and innovation
- Position Gen Z as vital actors in the future of development
- Build resilience within philanthropic systems facing complex global pressures
Chang offers a way to think differently to see connections where others see chaos, and to prepare not just for what’s next, but for what’s possible.
Whether his keynote sparks strategic transformation or simply leaves attendees asking better questions, one thing is clear: his voice belongs in the room.
And for a sector striving to fund the future, few things could matter more.
