Curated philanthropy: making collaborative giving more effective

For many donors, the appeal of pooled funds is understandable. They offer simplicity, scale and reassurance.

But when tackling complex, systemic challenges – like eliminating avoidable blindness – what really matters is how effectively capital is orchestrated and deployed.

‘Accelerate’ trachoma elimination: the proof our approach works

Accelerate, Sightsavers’ ambitious trachoma elimination initiative which began in 2018, was one of the first TED Audacious projects. It brought together philanthropists, donors, communities, technical agencies and governments to combat neglected tropical diseases.

The project uses our extensive fund management expertise and close relationships with ministries. We have overseen consortia of partners and governments since 2010. From 2018, we’ve expanded this, to manage multiple donors and implementing partners into one overall project. Some of these donors and partners are happy for funds to be used where needed, and some have restrictions or specific requirements. Our technical and fund management expertise allows us to align these streams. We can produce bespoke reporting for any donor that requires it (as well as a report for the programme as a whole). We maintain a direct contract with partners, rather than outsourcing this to an external party. Our curated philanthropy approach brings the scaling benefits of a pooled fund but adds greater donor choice.

The results of this way of working are undeniable. To date, Accelerate has supported 413 districts to achieve trachoma elimination thresholds, bringing national elimination ever closer. It has strengthened health systems and improved collaboration between the health and hygiene sectors. The project has also led to 20 million people no longer needing treatment. Within the next couple of years, thanks to Accelerate, we expect a total of 10 countries will have eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

Our goal: trachoma elimination globally

At Sightsavers, we work closely with each donor to understand their objectives, values and desired outcomes. These align with a broader strategy, making sure donor intent is respected and visible. We also make sure that funding complements other investments (rather than duplicating them) and that projects respond to local requirements.

A network of partners, including governments, non-government organisations and community organisations, delivers implementation. Each brings unique capabilities: managing these relationships requires trust, transparency and rigorous accountability. With this framework, we operate at a scale and depth no single organisation could achieve alone. We work closely with the International Coalition for Trachoma Control, which plays a key role in selecting which partners are best placed to lead in which countries, and the International Trachoma Initiative, which manages the drug donation programme.

Ultimately, we want to see trachoma eliminated across the globe. Curated philanthropy can help the global community achieve this ambitious goal.

Taking collaborative giving to the next level

Non-profit collaboration isn’t easy. One donor wants to fund a certain country; another wants to have certain partners. To make it work requires problem solving, technical and fund management expertise; rearranging and fitting together the pieces of the puzzle to form a harmonious whole.

At Sightsavers, we bring the relationships, technical knowledge and programme oversight needed to maintain momentum and ensure that investments translate into transformative, sustainable change.

Join us in advocating for change in global health and disability rights, and help build a more inclusive and equitable future. For more information, contact Anna Becker: [email protected]