Power and Participation in Philanthropy: Human Rights as a Goal or a Process?

Love, Samarasan & Mallillin explore philanthropy's role in human rights through participatory grantmaking. They evaluate whether philanthropy achieves rights-based goals or simply follows a process, discussing power dynamics, co-ownership, and accountability in giving. The article delves into the complexities of human rights philanthropy, questioning if it genuinely empowers beneficiaries or merely maintains existing power structures. It advocates for grantmaking models that emphasize shared decision-making and genuine collaboration, ensuring that human rights initiatives are driven by the communities they intend to serve, fostering true accountability and systemic change.