IPASA: shifting mindsets to encourage funding of climate philanthropy

Learning outcomes The learning objectives focus on enabling higher order learning for students to enable critical assessment of risk management overall and climate action in philanthropic settings, specifically Case overview/synopsis This case is situated in December 2023. Louise Driver, executive director of the IPASA, an association of independent South African philanthropic funders, was preparing for the IPASA’s 2024 strategic planning workshop. She was concerned about the slow progress of the association’s three-year initiative to encourage its members to fund climate philanthropy. IPASA had launched numerous initiatives to encourage climate philanthropy, but funders were still hesitant and there was very slow change in mindsets and behaviour. She knew that South Africa was not the only country where funding for climate philanthropy was slow. IPASA had achieved some success over the past three years, but the organisation was still far from where it wanted to be. As Driver reviewed what IPASA had been doing in this area, she wondered what it had been doing well, what it could do better and even if it needed a different approach entirely. She asked herself, “What alternatives should we consider when encouraging philanthropists to adopt a climate lens in their funding decisions?”. “What more can we do and what will bring about the mind shift we are seeking?” Complexity academic level The case is ideal for postgraduate level students studying sustainability, non-profit management, fundraising and resource mobilisation as well as climate- and development-focused modules. It is not suitable for undergraduate students, as there is an assumption of summative foundations in the fields of philanthropy, management and sustainability. Typical students would include those studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Management, Master of Management or Master of Business Administration, Master of Sustainability and postgraduate diploma in fundraising. The case study is also suitable for short courses offered to middle and senior managers and executives as part of an executive education offering. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.