Decolonising Philanthropy: From conceptual apprehension to functional progress

​This article examines the imperative of transforming philanthropic practices to dismantle enduring colonial power structures. The authors advocate for a shift from merely addressing symptoms of poverty and inequality to tackling their systemic roots. They emphasise the importance of empowering communities by involving them in co-creating strategies, focusing on historically marginalised groups through an intersectional lens, enhancing internal diversity and transparency within philanthropic organisations, and enabling trust-based, non-controlling partnerships. The article underscores that decolonising philanthropy requires intentional efforts to redistribute power and promote social justice, moving beyond traditional hierarchical approaches to effect transformative change.