Propel Philanthropy

Helping Funders Achieve Greater Impact

Most funders engage in what can be referred to as Vertical Philanthropy: focusing on one problem, solution, theory of change, organization, or geographic initiative at a time. This approach remains relevant. It has a long history of creating meaningful social impact and is central to the work of the social sector.

However, there is another approach we help funders employ. It has a longstanding track record of achieving an exceptional, far-reaching ROI, yet it remains largely overlooked. It can be referred to as Horizontal Philanthropy. Propel Philanthropy and Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) work in partnership to bring this approach to the fore.

Rather than focusing on a single issue, Horizontal Philanthropy can positively impact many people, nonprofits, communities, causes, and environments with the same dollars.

EXAMPLES OF HORIZONTAL PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION

Example Involving a Small Investment

Tens of thousands of dollars enabled TechSoup to raise $11.5 million for its capital campaign by a strict deadline. This campaign strengthened TechSoup’s ability to serve its membership of hundreds of thousands of organizations in 234 countries.

Example Involving a Medium-Sized Investment

Several hundred thousand dollars invested in a large media campaign enabled GivingTuesday to raise millions of additional dollars by increasing awareness of its movement.

Example Involving a Large Investment

The A.T.E. Charitable Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Omidyar Network invested millions of dollars that led to enormous improvements to the GiveIndia platform, which has since raised hundreds of millions of additional dollars.

Example Involving a Very Large Investment

Funders have invested in developing and maintaining the Foundation Directory for more than 65 years, enabling countless nonprofits to survive and thrive.

In each example, funders enabled not just one or a few, but thousands of nonprofits to improve their capacity to deliver across many cause areas.

Horizontal Philanthropy investments can also strengthen the collaborations, technologies, data infrastructure, platforms, networks, and other types of connective tissue needed to catalyze sustainable, long-term change in the social sector ecosystem.