Five Agendas to Drive the Transformation of the Philanthropic Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean remain a blind spot for global philanthropy.
Between 2018 and 2020, the region received just USD 400 million per year in private philanthropic funding, compared to USD 2.9 billion in Africa and USD 1.4 billion in Asia. The region is often labeled “middle income,” but this narrative hides deep inequalities: the richest 10% earn twelve times more than the poorest, and more than 270 million people still live in poverty. Meanwhile, violence, climate risks, and persistent social divides continue to erode progress. At the same time, the region is rich in innovation, civic leadership, and social entrepreneurship. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, communities and organizations are creating local solutions with global relevance, but their potential remains underfunded and underrecognized. To explore how philanthropy can rise to meet this moment, The Resource Foundation and Dalberg Advisors, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, consulted more than 70 leaders from across the region, from philanthropic organizations and companies to community actors and social innovators.
Their insights converge around FIVE TRANSFORMATIONS that can redefine the role of philanthropy in the region:
2. MOBILIZING MORE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL,
3. FINANCING BETTER, SHIFTING FROM CHARITY TO LONG-TERM INVESTMENT,
4. LOCALIZING PHILANTHROPY BY EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES, AND
5. STRENGTHENING THE SECTOR ITSELF.
The report, “Five Agendas to Drive the Transformation of the Philanthropic Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean”, calls for bold alliances, deeper trust, and smarter capital, so that the region’s social innovation can finally receive the global recognition and investment it deserves.
REPORT | PUBLISHED DATE: OCTOBER 30, 2025
