“Equality is the pursuit of balance. The pursuit of fairness, of rights and of justice, and of access to opportunities. When things are not in balance, it creates tension, and this tension only increases and leads to ever greater pressure and stress. The universe only allows this to increase for so long.”
- Angel Font, Opening Plenary of Philea Forum 2025
Some issues are so huge that they touch on almost every aspect of philanthropic work.
Perhaps all work.
Like great monoliths, they cast vast shadows and are slow and difficult – but not impossible – to move. In 2025, we placed a special focus on the first of three of these – equality – to be followed in 2026 by the theme of climate and environment and in 2027 by the theme of democracy. These are not addressed in isolation one year at a time but rather as cross-cutting themes, and the emphasis is on finding the critical intersections between them.
Adopting a more hope-based approach, instead of talking about the fallout of inequality, we placed the focus on the benefits of greater equality. And we invited our membership to come together, in all its diversity, to envision not only what a greater balance of power and justice could and should look like, but how it can actually be achieved, as laid out in our Philanthropy and Equality Framework.
In the words of the Framework, "Equality is where it begins." Of course, walking the talk takes courage, especially in the face of unsympathetic administrations and the shrinking space for philanthropy to operate. But the greater the storm, the greater the need for lighthouses, and more than ever we need philanthropy to stand firm and represent a beacon of hope when the skies appear at their darkest. As a sector, we have both the privilege and responsibility to help contribute to a brighter future for everyone.
As always, thank you to all our members who contribute through diverse networks, communities and governance bodies. Thank you for sharing knowledge and supporting our work in different ways and for making the sky brighter today than it was yesterday.
Let’s make tomorrow even brighter.
Enjoy your reading,
Delphine and Angel
Delphine Moralis, Philea
