Exploring relational philanthropy – Mercers Company

Dr Janis Petzinger will present her research on relational philanthropy to the philanthropy team at London’s Mercers Company. Discussing the lexicon of ‘added-value philanthropy’ that resembles a pull between philanthrocapitalism and relational philanthropy, Dr Petzinger will explore the promises and pitfalls of philanthrocapitalism and financialised philanthropy, and how the UK foundation world is shifting best practices towards bottom-up trust-based practices. She will conclude with some key lessons for funders, including: the challenges of integrating trust-based practices, rethinking social capital through the lease of reciprocity, and tangibly reframing problematic power dynamics in gift relationships.