Dear Philanthropists

Dear Philanthropists,

I write this with both urgency and conviction — because I know many of you are feeling stuck.

The challenges facing the development and humanitarian sectors are vast. Conflicts are escalating. Climate shocks are deepening inequality. Trust is fraying. And amidst it all, many of you — committed, generous, thoughtful — feel unsure. Unsure of where to put your resources. Afraid to act, afraid to misstep, overwhelmed by the scale of need. I understand that. But let me be frank:

Not acting is not an option.

We are standing at a historic crossroads. The sector is not just in crisis — it’s at an inflection point. And while that can feel daunting, it’s also an invitation. An invitation to rethink, to reimagine, to be bold.

This is the time to tear up the old rule book. To stop asking what’s safe and start asking what’s needed. To fund differently — creatively, flexibly. To move beyond restrictive categories of “project” and “overhead”, “local” and “international”, and start funding transformation.

It’s time to challenge outdated definitions of “restricted” and “unrestricted”. To trust that those closest to the problem — grassroots leaders, local organisations, frontline communities — are the ones most committed to the solution. And to invest in them not just with words, but with resources.

We must fund resilience — not just results. This means building the very fabric of organisations: their systems, their people, their leadership. Because capacity is what allows communities not only to survive but to thrive.

This is not the time for small, safe bets. It’s a time for courage, creativity, and commitment. A time for what Elizabeth Taylor once called “blood, sweat, and guts.”

If you care about change, if you believe in justice, if you want your giving to matter — then now is the moment to act.

Don’t sit this one out.

With resolve,
Keith Kibirango