#PhilChat: Philanthropy’s Role in Advancing Global Well-Being

Last month, the Rockefeller Foundation, in partnership with Resource Alliance and the Institute for Development Studies, convened a major summit in Bellagio, Italy, on the future of philanthropy and development in the pursuit of well-being. The summit—the culmination of a process involving regional consultations around the globe, the commissioning of papers on relevant topics, and more—generated key messages for institutions and individuals working in, and with, the development and philanthropy sectors.

Now, these individuals and others in the field of global grantmaking have a chance to weigh in and respond to those messages by joining the Council on Foundations, the Rockefeller Foundation, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy during a special Twitter Chat, December 12, 1–2 p.m. ET, using the hashtag #PhilChat.

Participants are invited to join Jim Thompson from the U.S. State Department, Rob Garris of the Rockefeller Foundation, Najat Rochdiof the United Nations Development Programme, and other global philanthropy leaders to discuss philanthropy's role in advancing global well-being. During the Twitter dialogue, some of the most important messages to emerge from the summit will be explored, including:

• The concept of "development" needs to be replaced with that of "well-being." Global philanthropy needs to move the focus away from western-style growth toward sufficiency, happiness, and sustainability.
• The sector needs new paradigms for collaboration that better understand and utilize comparative advantages and similarities between different types of actors—long-established foundations, new foundations emerging in the developing world, corporations, government, multilaterals, NGOs, and social movements.
• Why global philanthropy needs to put people at the center of the work, addressing power structures, human rights, and justice.
• The philanthropic sector is just too risk averse. It needs to view risk-taking as an important element of strategic philanthropy and build cultures where failures are accepted and seen as learning opportunities.

How the Twitter Chat Works

Participants just need to access their Twitter account and follow the discussion through the #philchat hashtag.

The Chronicle, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Council will encourage participants to tweet questions before and during the one-hour online conversation. Some of the most common questions and requests for information will be gathered and addressed during the chat.

Participants can send messages via Twitter before the chat to the Council (@COF_), the Chronicle (@philanthropy), or the Rockefeller Foundation (@FoundationRock).