It’s time for philanthropy to step up The mood at Skoll was very much that philanthropy must step up to support organizations hit by the cuts <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POrih-M-J_dsOlwEujQ2bu2ACzJ2wszDhV9VaXoCn4jokSgcgcFshl6joEdeMLLiQFv_gd7u9E2ebQsO7HpF0DxeWkfWDiryYP8foyUn6MjxVlVNhcMujOEQLFueFFksnYVZyLBf833UZTunxohb2dQw1voZ0m6_qi-PztaFShVMCzIQD1oQSmZI0YQdA_9DWr77NKlVL0cmlUFnd-j_MJvg0eiNravRWfH_iwfSCa99D/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZr_h3in6jAnKRkQMQzn61LlJ_V6RUQjTcG0faEIKIBgWo3ofwfZiw4YLTgZBBFe-Fsd1HBxs=>. The philanthropic sector, despite its important contributions, *can’t substitute for official development assistance*. To illustrate, the annual spending of top foundations totals about $11 billion, a fraction of the $223 billion in ODA globally, or even the $65 billion provided by the U.S. alone.
Philanthropists upping their contributions include Jeff Skoll himself who is back at the forum after several years’ absence due to ill health to promise *an additional $25 million* after calling aid cuts “careless, callous and inhumane.” John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation, said his organization would *increase giving from 5% of its endowment to at least 6%* — likely around $75 million a year of additional spending. And the Trevor Noah Foundation — founded by the South African comedian and talk show host who shot to fame on U.S. late night TV — announced plans to provide *a new venture philanthropy fund for South African education nonprofits* worth $1.75 million. That was the mood in front of the microphones. But behind the scenes, there were some mutterings from social leaders that they were *not seeing philanthropy respond as promptly* or as effectively as they might like. *Read:* Big foundations say it’s time to increase giving <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POrih-M-J_dsOlwEujQ2bu2ACzJ2wszDhV9VaXoCn4jokSgcgcFshl6joEdeMLLiQFv_gd7u9E2ebQsO7HpF0DxeWkfWDiryYP8foyUn6MjxVlVNhcMujOEQLFueFFksnYVZyLBf833UZTunxohb2dQw1voZ0m6_qi-PztaFShVMCzIQD1oQSmZI0YQdA_9DWr77NKlVL0cmlUFnd-j_MJvjnjQorMul-YLb-r9SKgCVH/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZr_h3in6jAnKRkQMQzn61LlJ_V6RUQjTcG0faEIKIBgWo3ofwfZiw4YLTgZBBFe-Fsd1HBxs=>
