Yma Gordon

In philanthropy, playing it safe can mean missing what matters most. The social challenges we’re facing today: climate change, displacement, deepening inequality, require bold ideas and unproven models. But with boldness comes risk. And in the world of corporate philanthropy, that risk can feel especially heavy. At the Cisco Foundation, we believe that responsible risk-taking is essential to unlocking impact at scale. That means funding early-stage solutions that might not have a ten-year track record. It means supporting community-led approaches that don’t always fit neatly into traditional frameworks. It means trusting partners to experiment, learn, and adapt in real time. Of course, we monitor results. But we also value learning alongside our grantees, and we accept that not every bet will lead to a breakthrough. What matters is that we are moving with purpose, and that we are not waiting for perfection before we act. Social innovation thrives when funders make space for experimentation. We should not shy away from the uncertainty that comes with doing something new. Instead, we should embrace it, because the risks we take today may be what unlocks a more just and resilient future tomorrow. #SocialInnovation #SocialImpact

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What if philanthropy's full financial power isn't being harnessed, or worse, is working against itself and against our best interests? What if this massive, tax-subsidized effort is at odds with people and the planet? We believe in the immense power of philanthropy to drive positive change but what if it often isn't? And how would we even know? ​ We recently conducted deep-dive analyses into the investment portfolios of a few major foundations who have made their investments public, using their own missions as the benchmark of success. These foundations are showing a significant amount of courage today in being transparent about their investments. They aren't required to do so, and very few foundations actually do make them public. So first, I want to applaud them for taking a step they don't have to take. That step made these analyses possible, and like most transparency, it can lead to uncomfortable conversations. The findings were staggering. ​ In one analysis of a prominent foundation focused on tackling major global challenges like social inequality, climate change, and international conflict, we found that over 40% of its multi-billion-dollar endowment was in "Counter-Mission" investments. This included private equity funds dedicated to expanding fossil fuel infrastructure and activist hedge funds that were publicly demanding mass layoffs at companies—using the foundation's capital to do so. ​ Another analysis of a foundation that had famously pledged to divest from fossil fuels found its portfolio still contains oil refiners, service companies, and several major banks that are the world's largest financiers of the fossil fuel industry. ​ These aren't isolated oversights; they represent a systemic paradox where the financial engines of foundations often fuel the very problems their grantmaking aims to solve. We have developed a draft piece of legislation we are calling the Foundation Accountability and Investment Reform (FAIR) Act. It is designed to close this mission gap with a constructive, common-sense approach: ​ Transparency: Requires foundations and DAFs to publicly disclose their investment holdings Alignment: Creates a clear framework for foundations to classify investments based on their mission, guided by an expert advisory board Incentives: Rewards mission-aligned investing and provides a "safe harbor" period for foundations to divest from conflicting assets before any penalty is considered ​ This is a draft and we believe this is a crucial conversation for the future of the philanthropic sector. We are now seeking discussion, feedback, and collaboration from leaders in philanthropy, finance, non-profits, and public policy to refine this data-driven proposal. ​ Our goal is to strengthen the sector's integrity and dramatically increase its positive impact. We welcome your thoughts. You can read the summary here:  https://lnkd.in/g-DdK-9A You can read a rough draft of the legislation here:  https://lnkd.in/gqwhYnQJ

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This week's International Peace Institute (IPI) Global Leaders Series, "Insights from The Business of Philanthropy," underscored a simple truth: when philanthropy operates like a smart investment, backed by local leadership and rigorous measurement, its impact scales. Key themes: strategic giving, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term commitment. Thank you to IPI and the panel for an insightful conversation.   The session reinforced that meaningful change requires more than good intentions. Treat philanthropic capital like patient investment, empower local leadership, build multi-sector partnerships, and prioritise measurement to learn and adapt. These shifts are essential for scalable and sustainable impact. #philanthropy #impact #socialchange #globalleaders #sustainability #impactinvesting

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