Systems change and the future of philanthropy

How can foundations and philanthropic organisations apply a systems change lens to their work, and what is the unique role of philanthropy in bringing about systemic change? Kyrill Hartog and Teresa O’Connell, Are We Europe, spoke to Indy Johar, Dark Matter Labs; Karin Häselbock, Ashoka; and Delphine Moralis, Philea to get their perspectives. 

Systems change and the future of philanthropy

“There is no localist story to what is now a full-scale planetary crisis,” says Indy Johar, the architect and co-founder of Dark Matter Labs, as we catch up with him online after the 2022 PEXForum in Istanbul.

Speaking from the London office of his organisation—which builds institutions, instruments and infrastructures for a more equitable, caring and sustainable future—his demeanour is remarkably calm and collected considering the somberly picture he’s painting. “We are facing a class of multipolar traps, so that even if the UK and Europe got to net zero, for example, we wouldn’t solve the problem of climate change. If Nigeria or Ghana don’t fix their systems, we’re all literally dead in the water.” Read more