SHORT 'When Funders Let Go', Geneva Loftus Executive Director at Move92

A really warm welcome to Purposely SHORT, - short as in not long - a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. The aim is to give you a useful insight that you can action, helping you to deliver on your charitable mission. Enjoy.

Geneva Loftus, who works with funders and grassroots organisations around the world. Geneva breaks down one of the biggest shifts happening in philanthropy right now: moving decision-making power closer to communities.

She explains why donors must let go of the instinct to design solutions themselves, even with the best intentions, and instead create space for local leaders to bring forward ideas grounded in lived experience. And when funders do that? The results can be extraordinary.

Geneva shares one of her favourite examples: a young Sherpa leader in Nepal who rejected more school-building and instead proposed something funders would never have imagined, a mountain bike training facility to keep youth in school and create new income opportunities. A small, unrestricted grant set off a ripple of positive change that transformed the whole community, sparked local business investment, created leadership pathways for girls, and even launched an international race series… all for under USD $30,000.

Takeaway: trust the people closest to the problem. Their ideas will surprise you. Every time.

This episode of Purposely was brought to you by Benevity and Trust Investments NZ.