Collective giving is changing how people engage with philanthropy.
By bringing individuals together to pool resources and make shared decisions, these models are widening participation in funding decisions and reshaping how philanthropy is practiced in different contexts.
The approach is gaining traction as more communities look for ways to make giving more inclusive, accessible, and better connected to local priorities.
Sara Lomelin, Chief Executive Officer of Philanthropy Together, is among the speakers expected to contribute to these conversations at the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference in Addis Ababa.
Philanthropy Together works with networks, funders, and community groups to support the growth of collective giving.
Its work includes strengthening leadership, connecting giving circles, and expanding opportunities for broader participation in philanthropy across different regions and communities.
Lomelin’s work is closely tied to this growing movement.
She has been involved in efforts that bring together donors and communities to explore more collaborative approaches to giving, with an emphasis on shared participation and collective decision-making.
Her earlier experience includes roles at the Latino Community Foundation and Opportunity Fund, where she worked on donor engagement and community-based philanthropy.
She also contributed to the development of the Latino Giving Circle Network, helping to expand access to collective giving and strengthen participation among underrepresented communities in the United States.
Across the sector, there is increasing attention on how philanthropy is structured and who participates in funding decisions.
This includes growing interest in models that distribute decision-making more broadly and encourage greater community involvement in giving.
Within this context, collective giving is often referenced as one of the approaches contributing to shifts in how resources are mobilised and how communities engage with philanthropy.
From a broader perspective, Lomelin’s experience in building and supporting collective giving networks reflects the kinds of developments that are influencing how participation in philanthropy is being reimagined in different contexts.
At the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference, scheduled for 16–20 June 2026, these conversations are expected to sit within broader discussions on the evolution of philanthropy and the range of models shaping how giving is organised and practiced.
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