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Intergenerational

What is philanthropy’s obligation to past, present, and future generations? Unpack the rub between longevity, unmet needs, and the repair of past harms.
Intergenerational
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Who controls the past, controls the future. Who controls the present, controls the past.

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George Orwell, British Author of poems, novels, and essays

Posts from Intergenerational

Introduction to Intergenerational Stories

Grapple with the idea of relationships across time. How much should foundations focus on the urgencies of the present, right wrongs of the past, or lay the groundwork for future generations?

Present Focus

Encounter three foundations who focus on strategies to address urgencies in the here and now. Read about their experiences with spending down, philanthropic reform, and mission-aligned investment.

Past Focus

What are the moral obligations foundations have towards righting wrongs of the past? Learn about two foundations who have gone down the road of reparations.

Future Focus

Perpetual endowments are well established within the philanthropic sector, some say as a source of stability across generations, some say as a means to hoard resources.

What is Intergenerational Justice?

Tackle the questions around the ethical responsibilities of present generations to their own, past, and future generations. What is our role in repairing injustices of the past vs shaping the future?

The Intergenerational stories podcast

The debate over what philanthropy owes to past, present, and future generations has been heating up lately: spend down or hold funds in perpetuity? Repair for past harms and/or address current inequities? Let’s get nuanced.
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