Following the sad news of Ted Turner’s death, our Founder and CEO, Ben Morton Wright, reflects on the visionary philanthropist whose landmark support for the United Nations helped redefine global giving, and whose 2017 letter to Talking Philanthropy remains as urgent and resonant today as it was then.

In London on 7th May 2026, Global Philanthropic will bring together some of the most influential voices in philanthropy, policy and humanitarian response for Talking Philanthropy London 2026, marking the first forum in its tenth anniversary year and setting the tone for a decade defined by action, not just intent.

Hosted in partnership with Altrata, this invitation only gathering will explore a central question facing the sector today. In a world of growing complexity, shifting power dynamics and structural inequalities, how can philanthropy deploy capital with greater discipline, purpose and impact?

Under the theme Beyond Aid: The Role of Philanthropy in a New World Context, the forum will examine how philanthropy can move beyond traditional models and embrace its role as risk capital, unlocking new approaches to resource mobilisation and long-term systemic change.

Since 2016, Talking Philanthropy has created space for honest, rigorous dialogue about the forces reshaping global philanthropy. Its strength lies in its community; philanthropists, advisers and leaders who are not simply funding change, but actively designing it.

In 2026, Talking Philanthropy enters a new chapter with a multi-city programme across key global markets, including Sydney and London, culminating in an annual summit in Geneva.

How can the largest wealth transfer in history shape a better future for all? In his opening address at the Talking Philanthropy 2024 forum, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, spoke about the extraordinary opportunity presented by the largest wealth transfer in history, highlighting how, if used wisely, it could address global challenges.

Talking Philanthropy 2024 has been a forum of truly remarkable conversations, uniting brightest minds, passionate philanthropists, and dedicated leaders from across the world.

Reflecting on the incredible discussions, I am reminded of the amazing amount of work that goes into making such an event possible. My deepest gratitude to Lady Edwina Grosvenor for her unwavering support, our incredible partners and guest speakers, and the phenomenal Global Philanthropic team who made this extraordinary event a reality.

The Grosvenor Family are no strangers to philanthropy. With a longstanding track record of supporting charitable initiatives throughout their history, they continue to provide long term sustainable help and opportunities throughout the world.

Lady Edwina Grosvenor, sister of the 7th Duke of Westminster is a passionate advocate for prison reform and founder and Chair of One Small Thing, an organisation that aims to redesign the justice system. Her extensive philanthropic work most recently saw the opening of Hope Street in June 2023, a safe space for women to serve their sentences in the community alongside their children.

We are therefore delighted to announce that Lady Edwina has been appointed Chair of Global Philanthropic’s Advisory Board with immediate effect.

I was recently asked by a large foundation to give my view of the future of philanthropy as part of a study. This prompted me to ask my colleagues at Global Philanthropic to join in a collaborative debate on the subject. Here is our thinking.

There are important lessons which have come out of the pandemic for higher education organisations, lessons which are important to keep top of mind as we continue to move forward, and lessons which will continue to be as important post-pandemic as they were during.

Congratulations to this year's Philanthropy Award Winners, Fran Perrin, Dexter Yang, and Marcus Rashford.

Sociologist Erving Goffman suggested that the best time to understand social interaction is when it’s disrupted. This may also be true of philanthropy, and the field is certainly experiencing disruption today.This has highlighted the historically unequal power dynamic that exists between philanthropic organizations in the Global South and resource-rich foundations of the Global North.