Shafi Musaddique
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Journalist covering minorities in Europe, interested in decolonisation, multiple belongings.
writings in @guardian, @Aljazeera, etc.
News editor @AllianceMag.
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Articles by Shafi Musaddique
Global coalition launched for funders tackling displacement and migration
The World Refugee & Migration Council is set to launch a new global coalition of philanthropy, financial institutions, government and researchers. Funded by Mindset Social Innovation Foundation, the initiative will be a convening point for leading voices with lived displacement experience.
Air quality funding not going to most exposed populations
Funding for clean air is not going to ‘where pollution exposure and health risks are greatest’ and is most heavily focused in southeast Asia, according to the Clean Air Fund. Their warning comes after new research published by the Clean Aid Fund in the latest ‘state of global air quality’ study showed that the most polluted places in the world are missing out on vital funding to tackle air pollution.
US-Indian diaspora giving on verge of ‘significant’ intergenerational wealth transfer
Giving from the Indian diaspora is on the rise and on the cusp of a ‘significant intergenerational wealth transfer’, according to new findings from philanthropy consultancy group Bridgespan. ‘Indian Americans are orienting their philanthropy toward both where they live and where their families came from,’ the report said. Their potential to make an impact ‘has never been greater’.
Philanthropic fund launched to prevent Amazon rainforest wildfires
A new philanthropic fund has been launched aimed at preventing and detecting Amazon rainforest wildfires. The South America Wildfire Fund, launched during Climate Week in New York City, received support from the US-based Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Renaissance Philanthropy, a nonprofit that builds ‘time bound’ funds, and Conservation X Labs, dedicated to ‘preventing the sixth mass extinction’, are behind the new fund.
Good Start Challenge winners announced across Global Majority
Winners of the €2.6 million Good Start Challenge were announced, following a thousand entries from across the Global Majority. Six teams were awarded 200,000 euros each, as part of an initial scaling up period. The winners included a community-owned initiative of solar powered hubs for displaced mothers and young children in Ethiopia. ‘Every mother deserves a safe place to heal, learn, connect and raise her child with hope.
Canadian nonprofit takes over $1.5 billion affordable housing fund
A nonprofit will manage a new $1.5 billion fund dedicated towards affordable rental properties, according to Canada’s national government. The Canadian Housing Acquisition Fund (CHAF) will manage the fund, aimed at helping Indigenous, cooperative and non-profit housing providers gain easier access to capital to help buy and develop homes for Canadians on lower incomes over the long term.
Philanthropy turns blind eye to Singapore independent media and civil society
Philanthropy is ignoring Singapore’s independent media and civil society, largely due to the widely held misconception that wealth generated in the island-state will reach critical needs, one of Singapore’s most vocal public activists has warned. Speaking to Alliance magazine’s ‘…and some change’ podcast, Kirsten Han, editor of the Mekong Review, said that Singapore’s increasing wealth has, ironically, become a barrier for movements and independent media to access even the smallest of grants.
Asia urged to unlock ‘new mandate for philanthropy’ for wider systems change
Asian philanthropies must unlock ‘more catalytic’ finance as part of a ‘new mandate for philanthropy’ to help usher in wider systems change. A new report by Temasek Trust and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), exploring how philanthropy can better support inclusive development in Asia, urged philanthropy to move beyond funding individual projects and further towards addressing wider change shaping development outcomes.
Asian family philanthropy focused on domestic giving as next-gen shift priorities
The vast majority of Asia’s family philanthropy focused on domestic giving, according to a new report published by the advisory group Bridgespan. Wealthy philanthropic families operating visibly gave to their geographic and cultural surroundings, with 92 percent giving domestically, and 90 percent operating as grantmakers. Flexible funding remains rare, while families tend to support up to six key issues.
Charities struggling to cope as funding concerns mount
Charities across the world are finding it difficult to cope, according to a new report published by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). Research from the World Giving Report: Charity Insights found that fewer than two in five (37 percent) charities feel financially and operationally set up for success over the next three years. Larger charities feel more confident, while organisations that provide crucial services are among the most pessimistic.
Funding plummets for human rights groups fighting corporate abuse
A funding crisis has emerged for human rights groups working against corporate abuses. A new global survey published by Swedwatch, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice and the Business and Human Rights Centre has found that, on average, organisations have lost an average of 40 percent of funding since 2024, with one in eight warning that they will shut down without new funding.
Latin America ‘excessively controlling’ civil society through hostile laws
Latin American civil society is facing a pattern of increasingly ‘excessively controlling, punitive or stigmatising’ regulation. A new report facilitated by the Thomson Reuters Foundation with Fundamedios, a rights-based advocacy group, identified four emerging risks across ten Latin American countries. Hostility from governments has led to weakened civil society organisations, restriction of their funding and limiting their participation in public spaces.
Wallace Global Fund to spend endowment, calls on US foundations to go above minimum payout
The US-based Wallace Global Fund called for US philanthropy to go beyond the 5 percent minimum payout threshold, after it announced plans to spend its entire endowment towards strengthening movements, protecting multicultural democracies, climate justice and holding large corporations accountable.
India’s corporate social responsibility funds inaccessible beyond cities
India’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds cluster around industrialised areas that tend to be characterised as accessible or economically important geographies. In Maharashtra, for example, only 12 percent of the state’s CSR expenditure in 2023–24 had reportedly gone to so-called ‘aspirational districts’. Regions such as Vidarbha and Marathwada, facing urgent education needs, have sustained barriers towards accessing CSR funding compared to the state’s cities and metropolitan areas.
India’s corporate social responsibility funds inaccessible beyond cities
India’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds cluster around industrialised areas that tend to be characterised as accessible or economically important geographies. In Maharashtra, for example, only 12 percent of the state’s CSR expenditure in 2023–24 had reportedly gone to so-called ‘aspirational districts’. Regions such as Vidarbha and Marathwada, facing urgent education needs, have sustained barriers towards accessing CSR funding compared to the state’s cities and metropolitan areas.
Polish foundation partners with UNESCO for first time
The UN’s cultural preservation arm has for the first time partnered with a Polish foundation. UNESCO and the Omenaa Foundation signed a three year agreement towards the revitalisation of heritage sites, the promotion of contemporary African art and artists, and strengthening cultural and educational bridges between Europe and Africa. ”Today, we want to build Europe-Africa relations not only through charity.
$15 million fund launched to help end female genital mutilation
A new $15 million fund launched to help end female genital mutilation has been welcomed as part of ‘unstoppable momentum’ gathering against the practice. The Her Horizon Fund, backed by the UN and seeded by the US-based Wallace Global Fund, along with another $1.5 million from an unnamed backer, hopes to eventually pool $100 million for donors. Funding appears off the back of a sharp decline in overseas aid and humanitarian assistance.
Australia collective giving at ‘inflection point’
Collective giving has reached an ‘inflection point’ requiring core funding, having established itself as a mainstay in Australian philanthropy despite the constraints by low levels of public awareness. According to a report published Philanthropy Australia, a national network body, collective giving has become an established part of the philanthropy ecosystem. In 2017, just 17 groups in the collective giving space were identified. Today hundreds are believed to be active across the country.
AVPN announces raft of commitments for Asia impact
AVPN announced a raft of commitments at the 2026 Global Conference held in New Delhi. Covering climate action, health impact, gender equality and economic inclusion, philanthropies agreed a range of financing and knowledge sharing commitments. AVPN and the UAE’s Erth Zayed Philanthropies signed of a memorandum of understanding bringing philanthropic networks between West Asia and the rest of the continent together, through knowledge sharing and support for social impact.
Asia’s $109 billion philanthropy ecosystem could further grow with knowledge sharing
Asia’s $109 billion philanthropy ecosystem has more capacity to grow in value and size over the coming two decades.
Sweden foreign aid cuts come into ‘devastating’ force ahead of election day
Sweden’s foreign aid budget cuts have come into force and are already causing ‘severe impacts’ for gender equality, human rights and peacebuilding—areas once upon a time seen as priorities, now rolled back under Sweden’s rightward political lurch. Ahead of Sweden’s general election on Sunday, Swedwatch, one of the world’s largest independent watchdogs monitoring business and corporate abuses globally, told Alliance magazine that funding cuts have had a dramatic effect both at home and abroad.
Saudi philanthropy increasingly institutionalised ahead of 2030 plans
Saudi Arabia’s philanthropic and impact investing landscape are both increasingly becoming formalised as part of wider national economy plans. According to a report published by Asia’s social impact network AVPN, family-led philanthropy is moving beyond ‘private acts of charity to become a more institutionalised pillar of the national economy’.
Sri Lanka considers NGO law designed to ‘intimidate and control’
Sri Lanka is considering a sweeping set of new laws aimed at non governmental organisations receiving foreign funding, which critics have warned as being ‘heavy handed’ and as designed to ‘intimidate and control’. New laws could see NGOs registering under one authority appointed by a government minister.
Tensions are rising in vaingloriously named Great Britain following the announcement that Prince Harry, the exiled second son of aging Supreme Ruler King Charles III, is set to return to the… | Patrick Gathara
Tensions are rising in vaingloriously named Great Britain following the announcement that Prince Harry, the exiled second son of aging Supreme Ruler King Charles III, is set to return to the reclusive, flavour-starved island kingdom. According to royal custom, Harry eschews the use of a surname in order to obscure the family's foreign tribal lineage.
International Fund for Public Interest Media CEO steps down
The International Fund for Public Interest Media’s CEO Nishant Lalwani has stepped down from his role after four years at the helm. ‘With all the geopolitical shocks to the aid sector, the journey has been longer and harder than any of us imagined. But the extraordinary team and board at IFPIM – the most determined, kind and formidable group I have ever been part of – made it possible,’ he wrote in a LinkedIn post.
East Africa Philanthropy Network signs agreement towards long-term resilience
The East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN) and Ashoka East Africa signed a memorandum of understanding, marking a strategic shift away from short-term donor dependence toward long-term institutional resilience. The move is set to combine EAPN’s philanthropic networks with Ashoka’s expertise in social entrepreneurship and help equip civil society organisations with sustainable financing models and wider support.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder: corporate philanthropy ‘rolling over’ under Donald Trump
Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, warns corporate foundations are ‘rolling over’ to US President Donald Trump’s anti diversity, equality and inclusion policies, off the back of Unilever’s decision to shut down the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation and evict its staff. The shutdown has left $600,000 in grants hanging in the air, with a court case pending for later this year.
UAE advances corporate social responsibility and impact economy
The Untied Arab Emirates has launched a new framework to help advance the country’s corporate sociality responsibility and its impact economy. Vice president and deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan said corporate social responsibility and sustainable impact were central to the UAE’s long term domestic plans.
UAE advances corporate social responsibility and impact economy
The Untied Arab Emirates has launched a new framework to help advance the country’s corporate sociality responsibility and its impact economy. Vice president and deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan said corporate social responsibility and sustainable impact were central to the UAE’s long term domestic plans.
India eyes law change for greater control over foreign funding and civil society
India’s parliament is considering amending a law that could significantly expand government authority over foreign contributions and assets held by foreign-funded civil society organisations. If changed, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, otherwise known as the FCRA could affect thousands of nonprofits, charities, religious institutions, and international donors operating in India.
AVPN launches ‘Ai for good’ fellowship
The Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) launched applications for its AI for Good Fellowship 2026, a regional learning programme designed to build capacity of nonprofit organisations, social investors, philanthropic institutions, and ecosystem leaders to responsibly adopt artificial intelligence.
British public increasingly open to Shift the Power narrative
Support for locally led approaches to international development is on the rise among the British public, a sign that the ‘Shift The Power’ movement is gaining a foothold in the UK. A paper released by major UK charity Comic Relief said the rising shift in support for organisations based across the Global Majority to take the lead in their own development efforts is more than what is ‘often assumed within the sector’.
Flexible, multi-year funding ‘scarce’ in southeast Asia
Southeast Asia’s funding landscape is dominated with restricted, short-term grants, with flexible and multi-year funding still comparatively scarce, according to a new report published by Asia Community Foundation. ACF, a network organisation of philanthropies and funders, outlined a funding practice report which found that 68 percent of surveyed both nonprofits and social impact grantees received over 80 percent of their annual income from restricted grants.
Indigenous First Nations call for support as wildfires sweep through Canada
Canada’s First Nations have called for urgent support as one of the most intense wildfire seasons in history rips through Indigenous communities. There have been at least 130 wildfires spreading across the British Columbia province in southwestern Canada since Friday, half of which have been considered ‘out of control’ by emergency services. More than 5000 people across the province have been evacuated.
India ready for ‘population level change’ if philanthropy and government collaborate
India has the opportunity for ‘sustainable population level change’ if it manages to bring philanthropy and government together successfully, a new Bridgespan report says. ‘India is at a pivotal moment in its development journey’, with a ‘long way to go’ still for a developed India by 2047. Institutionalised philanthropy has grown steadily and is expected to reach roughly 230,000 crore ($3 billion) by 2030.
Arrest of US donor to Gaza rings alarm bells over Trump clampdown
The arrest of a major US philanthropist who gave over $1 million to Palestinians in Gaza has sparked alarm bells over a possible chilling clampdown by the Trump administration. James ‘Fergie’ Chambers, an heir to the Cox family fortune and a major donor to Palestinian and progressive causes in the US, was arrested in Ibiza on 10 July at the request of US authorities. The Trump administration has requested extradition.
Bill Gates Foundation staff met Jeffrey Epstein 30 times over three-year period
Leaders and staff working for the Gates Foundation met serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein 30 times, according to findings from an external review commissioned by the foundation. Meetings between staff and Epstein, including Gates himself, happened between 2011 and 2014. Those meetings still happened, despite pushback from other staff members who ‘raised on multiple occasions the risks of associating with Epstein because of his prior conviction’.
Ben & Jerry’s Foundation forced to close after 40 years as corporate owner tightens grip
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation says it will shut down at the end of the year after its corporate parent cut off funding and evicted its workers. Food giant Unilever, owned of confectionary brand Magnum, forced the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation to close its doors, amid an escalation between Ben Cohen, co-founder and former owner of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and Unilever, current owner of the global ice cream brand.
Warren Buffett stops Gates Foundations donations after Epstein links
Multi-billionaire Warren Buffett has suspended his regular Gates Foundation donations, after links between Bill Gates and serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged. The 95-year-old Berkshire chairman failed to mention the Gates Foundation in his latest donations announcement. The Gate Foundation has received more than $47 billion worth in stock since 2006 – more than any other foundation from Buffett’s fortune. Last year, Buffett’s donation to the Gates Foundation was over $4.5 billion.
European funders urged to move beyond short term grants for ‘socially engaged’ arts
Funders have been urged to treat art organisations that work closely with social issues and communities as ‘core social infrastructure, not as an additional or “nice to-have” activity alongside frontline social services.’ A report published by the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts called on European philanthropy to expand the influence of ‘participatory, community-led artistic activity’, shift funding away from short-term projects to multiyear, ‘trust-based’ funding and for infrastructure...
UNICEF: Children ‘invisible’ in Asia’s corporate philanthropy reporting
Corporate philanthropy across Asia is failing to identify, report, or measure the impacts of their philanthropy on children. In a new study published by UNICEF, 1,399 companies listed from India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka made broad human-rights commitments. Few identify children as stakeholders or report how their operations and value chains affect them.
Asia’s capacity for funding social good not keeping pace with growing wealth
Asia’s capacity for deploying private funding for social good is not keeping pace with its growing wealth and billion-dollar philanthropic potential, the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) warned. In findings published in its Doing Good Index 2026, CAPS assessed the philanthropic and social investment environments across 17 Asian countries. CAPS found that the effectiveness of deploying private funding across the region has uneven effectiveness.
Latin America’s next generation wealth holders ‘moving abroad’
Latin America’s wealthiest young people are choosing to move abroad and work in the global finance industry before returning home to run family offices. According to Mario Cavalieri, the founder of Brazil Family Office Club, the largest club for family offices in the country, a new generation wealth holders are thinking less about the family business and more about studying abroad, working in big banks and hedge funds.
Fifteen days of military spending could fund healthy journalism environment
Just 15 days of global military spending could fund ‘healthy’ public media and secure information environments for citizens around the world. In a landmark report published by the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM), UNESCO and Deutsche Welle Academy, the philanthropy outlined evidence on how journalism benefits society.
Brazil’s Casa Fund launches ‘simplified call’ for grassroots battling bureaucracy Original
Brazil’s Casa Fund is to spend $2 million reals ($384,408 US dollars) prioritising grassroots organisations such as collectives or community associations who traditionally face difficulties accessing funding due to bureaucracy. The ‘simplified call’ is open to proposals covering advocacy, territorial strengthening, sustainable solutions, income generation, community climate resilience, institutional strengthening, and participation in public policies.
Pakistan shoots up world’s most generous countries ranking
Pakistan has been ranked as one of the world’s most generous countries, climbing from 17th in 2025 to 7th in 2026 in the latest World Giving Report 2026. The World Giving Report 2026, showcasing how giving looks across 105 countries of the world, measures generosity through donations to charities, direct support to people in need, religious giving, and broader civic engagement.
US index ranks best and worst states for nonprofit and philanthropy
A first ever map has ranked US states according to where nonprofits and philanthropy are thriving.
Tata Trusts refutes ‘narratives’ over boardroom tensions as it ups philanthropic spend
India’s Tata Trust is to up its philanthropic spend to 2,000 crore rupees ($211 million) this year, in an announcement made during heightened tensions. In a LinkedIn post, CEO Siddharth Sharma accused sections of media publishing ‘certain narratives’ about the philanthropy, after circulating reports of tensions among trustees across the Tata Trust. The philanthropic body has a majority stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates worth $180 billion.
Tata Trusts refutes ‘narratives’ over boardroom tensions as it ups philanthropic spend
India’s Tata Trust is to up its philanthropic spend to 2,000 crore rupees ($211 million) this year, in an announcement made during heightened tensions. In a LinkedIn post, CEO Siddharth Sharma accused sections of media publishing ‘certain narratives’ about the philanthropy, after circulating reports of tensions among trustees across the Tata Trust. The philanthropic body has a majority stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates worth $180 billion.
Bill Gates testifies on Epstein links as scrutiny ramps up
Bill Gates testified to US lawmakers about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, as scrutiny on links between the philanthropy, his foundation and the former sex offender ramped up. In a closed doors session with an oversight committee, Gates outlined the early stages of his relationship with Epstein in 2011, ‘during which I talked about the goals of my work’.
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