This Special Issue was developed in collaboration with Philea and published in June 2025.

 

Special Issue: Exploring Justice Philanthropy

What does it mean to pursue justice through philanthropy? This special issue of ERNOP Research Notes delves into the evolving and often contested terrain of justice philanthropy—a concept that sits at the crossroads of ethics, power, policy, and practice. Edited by Tobias Jung (University of St Andrews), Sevda Kilicalp (Philea), Barry Hoolwerf (ERNOP), and Lucia Patuzzi (Philea), the issue brings together diverse academic and practitioner perspectives that illuminate the foundational ideas, ethical tensions, and practical applications of justice-focused giving.

Contributions explore how legal structures, historical narratives, and institutional practices shape and challenge philanthropic efforts toward justice. From critiques of neo-colonial dynamics to case studies in higher education, community philanthropy, and sustainability, the articles illustrate both the promise and the complexity of reimagining philanthropy through a justice lens.

Rather than offering a single definition or model, this issue invites critical reflection and ongoing dialogue. It is a call to engage with justice philanthropy not as a settled solution, but as a space for experimentation, debate, and transformation. Read the full editorial by Tobias Jung (University of St Andrews), Sevda Kilicalp (Philea), Barry Hoolwerf (ERNOP) & Lucia Patuzzi (Philea).

#Philanthropy #Justice #Research #Inequality #Power #Ethics

 When Philanthropy and Justice Clash: How Law Can Bridge the Gap

Author(s): Matthew Harding – The University of Melbourne

Provided by: Madalena Potes from Nova University of Lisbon

Harding’s article explores how philanthropy, despite its good intentions, can inadvertently conflict with fairness and equity. Offers insights into legal mechanisms that can guide philanthropy to better serve justice and generate public benefit. In what ways can philanthropy undermine the principles of justice, and how can the law mediate or mitigate these tensions?

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Reparative Justice and the Moral Limits of Discretionary Philanthropy

Author(s): Chiara Cordelli – University of Chicago

Provided by: Jemma Chambers from Habitat for Humanity Great Britain

This article challenges the assumption that donors should be able to give to whichever causes they choose, based on personal passion and interest. The author contends that this level of donor freedom is unjustified, yet governments support it to compensate for underfunded public services. To what extent is philanthropy a private act and is there a moral and social obligation to see philanthropy instead as a public act of reparative justice?

 

Advancing Racial Equity in Postsecondary Education Philanthropy: A Call to Action

Author(s): Heather McCambly – University of Pittsburgh | Krystal Villanosa – Independent Researcher | Claire Mackevicius – Northwestern University

 Provided by: Merlin Ince (independent philanthropy practitioner)

 

Socio-political crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, and openly racialized politics, are prompting grantmakers to (re)consider their role as agents of change in the accountability and reimagination of postsecondary institutions. Based on research findings from a study with grantmakers about their commitments to racial equity, this article explores the process of transformation as moving beyond reactionary responses that uphold the status quo to bringing about enduring organizational change.

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Moving Towards a Racial and Reparative Justice Model in UK Philanthropy

Author(s): Fozia Irfan – Bayes Business School, City University London

Provided by: Tina Ajuonuma from The Better Org

UK philanthropies are still rooted in historical colonial ideals, which limit their ability to meaningfully engage with race and racial injustice. Via an in-depth literature review, this paper provides a historical exploration of the roots of philanthropic practice and explores the racial limitations of modern-day philanthropy. How do considerations of race and racial (in)equity factor into the practice of philanthropy in the UK?

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Philanthropic Foundations as Agents of Justice in Global Sustainability Governance

Author(s): Agni Kalfagianni – Erasmus University Rotterdam

Provided by: Pat Danahey Janin from PDJConsulting

This article brings into focus three contested concepts – philanthropy – power – justice – to critically assess how private philanthropic foundations shape the content and practice of justice in global sustainability governance. The author asks: What does this direction of private money into supporting global justice really mean?

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Community Philanthropy as Practice: A Case Study of Thousand Currents

Author(s): Fahad Ahmad – University of Toronto | Ashlesha Khadse – Thousand Currents

Provided by: Jemima Chana from the Oxford Fundraising Network

The authors propose Community Philanthropy (CP) as an alternative to the imbalanced power dynamics of traditional models of philanthropy. Instead, recommending prioritising community interests and needs by amplifying community voices, building relationships of solidarity and trust and working to encourage public foundations to move towards using long-term unrestricted/flexible funding. What can we learn from the foundation Thousand Currents about the practice of CP, as well as their experience of scaling this approach and advocating for and teaching peers in the sector?

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Tracing Social Justice: From Classical Ideas to Modern Redistribution

Author(s): Ben Jackson – Mansfield College, University of Oxford

Provided by: Shreya Gautam from London Funders

The concept of social justice has evolved significantly over time, shaped by changing social, political, and economic contexts. This historical perspective is crucial for philanthropy because it reveals how our understanding of justice directly influences resource allocation priorities. By recognizing the contextual nature of justice, philanthropic organizations can better align their work with contemporary needs rather than outdated frameworks. This research synthesizes existing literature on the conceptual history of social justice, examining both philosophical texts and historical developments to trace how the concept emerged and evolved over time. What distinguishes modern social justice from earlier concepts of justice, and when did it emerge in political discourse?

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Towards Full Potential of the Whole: An Integrative Framework to Advance Research and Practice in Justice Philanthropy

Author(s): Laurie E. Paarlberg – Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis | Marlene Walk – University of Freiburg | Cullen C. Merritt – University of Maryland

Provided by: Urska Kovse from the University of Cambridg

The article develops an integrative, transdisciplinary framework to unify fragmented discourses on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in institutional philanthropy as a starting point towards a more systematic advancement of accountability and structural transformation of philanthropic public and private foundations. What comprehensive conceptual framework effectively integrates disparate DEIJ-related literature to facilitate further academic research and justice-oriented philanthropic practices?

 

 

 

About the ERNOP Research Notes Most academic research on philanthropy is underutilised, while on the other hand, there is a need for practitioners to learn from academics. Given limited resources within the academic and philanthropy community, academic insights should be used as much as possible. However, practitioners rarely have time and access to the work published in academic journals. Besides, not all content of academic papers is relevant for practitioners. At the same time, academics often do not have time and/or skills to make their work accessible for practitioners and, what’s more, they get little rewards for doing so as the number of individual publications is often too limited to build a constituency. Therefore the European Research Network On Philanthropy (ERNOP) –  the academic network of philanthropy researchers in Europe – develops the ERNOP Research Notes. The Research Notes are an initiative by ERNOP and endorsed by the European Fundraising Association (EFA), Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea), the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) and Impact Europe.

 More information about the Research Notes can be found here.