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PartiPlay: A Fun New Approach To Education For Neurodivergent Students

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PartiPlay: A Fun New Approach To Education For Neurodivergent StudentsWhen neurodivergent kids design the game, the rules changeKadin McElwain
Fiscal Sponsorship Is Here to Stay
Fiscal Sponsorship Is Here to StayFiscal sponsors will continue to enable Americans to support projects of their choice at a time when those in need are stranded by government cutbacksGreg Colvin
Funders will invest in the infrastructure of collaborative funds – not just the funds themselves
Collaborative Funds Have Infrastructure – And It Needs InvestmentCollaborative funds are only as strong as their fiscal sponsors, and many are at breaking pointSampriti Ganguli
It’s Time to Rewrite the Job Description
It’s Time to Rewrite the Job DescriptionA dispatch from PEAK2025 on how grants managers are leading on equity, tech adoption and institutional changeRachel Kimber
Fundraising Help Is No Longer Optional for Fiscal Sponsors
Fundraising Help Is No Longer OptionalSponsors can help projects close gaps in resourcing, build confidence, and unlock far more than we investAlejandra García Lezama and Frank Gargione
Proximate Investing Spring Newsletter: Out of Balance
Spring Newsletter: Out of BalanceSonia Sarkar
As Philanthropy Wavers on Palestine, Organizers Look Forward – and to Each Other
As Philanthropy Wavers on Palestine, Organizers Look Forward – and to Each OtherIn New York City, organizers reflect on the path forward as philanthropy withdraws under political pressureNeon Mashurov
Will Tech Startup Services Help – or Hurt – Fiscal Sponsorship?
Will Tech Startup Services Help – or Hurt – Fiscal Sponsorship?As fiscal sponsorship evolves, several tech startups promise to ease administrative burdens... but some say they cause more headachesAnna Patton
The Gates Foundation is Spending Down. Will Others Follow?
The Gates Foundation is Spending Down. Will Others Follow?We spoke with Glen Galaich on what Gates' plans mean for the debate over philanthropic perpetuityBen Wrobel
Grassroots Grantmaking: Bill Gates Moves Past That “Weird Legacy Thing”
Newsletter: Bill Gates’ “Weird Legacy Thing”These are changing times, and this month's issue reflects some pretty large shifts in the world of philanthropy.Proximate
Repairing Development • Issue 5: Is AI Catching On To #ShiftThePower?
Newsletter: Is AI Catching On To #ShiftThePower?AI learns from what exists, so the more we talk about new models of development, the more we influence its baseline data about how money flowsIsabelle Clérié
Field Note: Follow the money: participatory democracy in Ukraine?
Follow the money: participatory democracy in Ukraine?Two Ukrainian communities – Zvyahel and Slavutych – will hold their first citizens’ assemblies in October and November. Proximate
Proximate Launches Series on Community-Led Investing, Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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Proximate Launches Series on Community-Led InvestingJournalism on compassionate investing will be supplemented with convenings that gather advocates, funders and community leadersProximate
What Funders Get Wrong About Girls and Young Feminists
What Funders Get Wrong About Girls and Young FeministsTwo new reports from Our Collective Practice challenge funders to think about girls' organizing in a new wayProximate
É possível dizer que a filantropia expressa as chamadas características femininas?
É possível dizer que a filantropia expressa as chamadas características femininas?A filantropia feminina está mudando o sistema - ou apenas a ótica? Um olhar fundamentado sobre gênero e doaçõesJoana Ribeiro Mortari e Patricia Kunrath
Fiscally Sponsored for the Long Haul
Fiscally Sponsored for the Long HaulWhy some fiscally sponsored projects choose not to spin out – and stick around for goodJennifer Krazit
Let's Build the Field of Philanthropic Advising: A Call to Action
Let's Build the Field of Philanthropic AdvisingNow more than ever, this disperse field needs coordination and collaboration. Let’s connect the dots.Chrissy Garton
Land, Power, and Collectivity: New Paths Within Philanthropy
Land, Power, and Collectivity: New Paths Within PhilanthropyHow two pioneers in participatory land management are embracing collective decision-makingAline Khouri
We Can Do Public Meetings Better
We Can Do Public Meetings BetterDisastrous town hall meetings are becoming a familiar part of the American fabric. It doesn’t have to be that waySusan Charland
A New Lifeline for Nonprofits and Movements: Why It's Time to Consider the PBC model
A New Lifeline for Nonprofits and Movements: Why It's Time to Consider the PBC modelWith social impact organizations under attack, the Public Benefit Corporation route has never been timelier Michael Gilligan
Como o Fundo Casa direciona recursos para as organizações de base no Brasil
Como o Fundo Casa direciona recursos para as organizações de base no BrasilMaria Amália Souza está tentando mudar a forma como o dinheiro flui para proteger a AmazôniaBen Wrobel
Resumo de Relatórios: Proximate Brasil
Resumo de Relatórios: Proximate BrasilLemos vários relatórios sobre a mudança de poder na filantropia e selecionamos os destaquesProximate
Report Roundup: Proximate Brasil
Report Roundup: Proximate BrasilWe read several recent reports on shifting power in philanthropy – and pulled out the highlightsProximate
Filantropia na blockchain
Filantropia na blockchainA fundadora da Grapevine fala sobre como os DAOs e os círculos de doação se cruzam cada vez maisEmily Rasmussen (tradução e reflexão final: Joana Mortari)
'Ensuring that the Community Endures'
'Ensuring that the Community Endures'Challenges and opportunities for territorial philanthropy and Buen VivirRenata Saavedra
Terra, Poder e Coletividade: novos caminhos dentro da filantropia
Terra, Poder e Coletividade: novos caminhos dentro da filantropiaComo dois pioneiros em gestão participativa da terra estão adotando processos de decisão coletivaAline Khouri
The Protagonism of Black Women in the Third Sector: Invisibility and Recognition
The Protagonism of Black Women in the Third SectorMost black women in Brazil’s grassroots and territorial organizations work informally – reinforcing inequalitiesLuana Batista
'Garantir que a comunidade permaneça'
'Garantir que a comunidade permaneça'Desafios e oportunidades para uma filantropia territorial e pelo bem viverRenata Saavedra
East Africa Connect: Advancing Collaboration for Impact
East Africa Connect Advancing Collaboration for ImpactThe launch of the Opportunity Collaboration East Africa ChapterVincent Mwangi
How Fiscal Sponsors Can Help Nonprofits Survive Political Threats
How Fiscal Sponsors Can Help Nonprofits Survive Political ThreatsTake these eight steps today to prepare new structures of supportThaddeus Squire
Is it possible to say that philanthropy expresses so-called feminine characteristics?
Is it possible to say that philanthropy expresses so-called feminine characteristics?Is feminine philanthropy changing the system—or just the optics? A grounded look at gender and givingJoana Ribeiro Mortari and Patrícia Kunrath Silva
How the Casa Fund Drives Resources to Brazil’s Grassroots
How the Casa Fund Drives Resources to Brazil’s GrassrootsMaria Amália Souza is trying to rewire how money flows to protect the AmazonProximate
Inside a Peer-Governed Fiscal Sponsor
Inside a Peer-Governed Fiscal SponsorMovement Sustainability Commons and other sponsors are starting to involve grassroots leaders in budgeting, hiring, and strategy decisionsNatalie Blackmur
O Protagonismo das Mulheres Negras no Terceiro Setor: Invisibilidade e Reconhecimento
O Protagonismo das Mulheres Negras no Terceiro SetorMulheres negras atuam como voluntárias em bases locais, sem remuneração, o que reforça desigualdades já naturalizadas.Luana Batista
Imperial Valley’s New Endowment – and What It Represents
Imperial Valley’s New Endowment – and What It RepresentsWhy one California foundation chose to shift assets — not just grants — to a more proximate foundationProximate
Half Her DAF: A Conversation with Jen Risher
Half Her DAF: A Conversation with Jen RisherThe co-founder of #HalfMyDAF talks about wealth, money stories, and what’s next for DAF reformMeg Massey
A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory Grantmaking
A New Book Shares Evidence on Participatory GrantmakingTwelve research papers shine a light on participatory models and approachesBen Wrobel
What the Heck is Fiscal Sponsorship, Anyway?
What the Heck is Fiscal Sponsorship, Anyway?An overview of the sometimes-misunderstood conceptSocial Impact Commons
Introducing... Common Ground: The Future of Fiscal Sponsorship
Introducing... Common GroundUnpacking the overlooked engine behind movements, mutual aid and frontline leadershipBen Wrobel
A people's climate policy agenda emerges in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe NGO Helps the People Take Charge of Climate Resilience Zimbabwe’s climate strategy isn't responsive to rural communities; Green Institute engaged citizens to change that. Ben Wrobel
How Can States Push for DAF Reform?
How Can States Push for DAF Reform?With federal reform stalled, state attorneys general can still act on DAF transparencyKendra Hurley
Rethinking Resources March 2025
Rethinking Resources NewsletterWhat’s next for resourcing social justice and feminist movements around the world?Proximate
Field Note: Participatory democracy isn’t just for governments
Participatory democracy isn’t just for governmentsNGO People Powered demonstrates how member-based organizations can use participatory democracy to determine how to allocate its budget.Proximate
Field Note: We need a common vocabulary for participation
We need a common vocabulary for participationWhat does make public participation in government decision-making meaningful? Proximate
How do you grow a culture of democracy from scratch?
How do you grow a culture of democracy from scratch?Marr Nyang founded Gambia Participates in a country just emerging from a decades-long dictatorshipPam Bailey
When Trust-Busting Leads to Trust Building
When Trust-Busting Leads to Trust BuildingThe story of how I discovered my trust fund — and had to fight to give it awaySusanna Penfield
Introducing... Unlocking Abundance
Introducing... Unlocking AbundanceAn editorial series exploring the future of DAF reform in the United StatesProximate
Five Questions for John Hecklinger
Five Questions for John HecklingerWe spoke with the Global Fund for Children’s co-CEO about participatory grantmaking and moreProximate
Out of Tune and Out of Time! The Harmful Stereotypes of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’
Out of Tune and Out of Time! The Harmful Stereotypes of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’The song reflects a past era of development that led to decades of errorVincent Mwangi
Who’s Defining Participation?
Who’s Defining Participation?Maybe we need to focus on the social and political context in which the idea and practice of participation emerges.Proximate
The Ultimate in Participatory Democracy is People Governing Themselves
The Ultimate in Participatory Democracy is People Governing ThemselvesThe concept of people governing themselves is beginning to take root in an exciting way in MyanmarProximate

Proximate is an independent media platform covering movements for participatory problem-solving. We look at the news through the lens of money: how it’s given away, how it’s invested, and how it’s distributed by government.
We are a fiscally sponsored project of Movement Strategy Center.

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