In the past two decades there has been a surge in financial initiatives aimed at doing good by doing well: abandoning the paradigm of focusing solely on maximising profits. As a result, there is now a range of tools available that combine different motivations in using financial capital to profitably promote social and or environmental goals. Aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, this module will explore some of the most important of these initiatives and innovative instruments for channelling funding towards solutions to the challenges we face as a global community. Those instruments are impact oriented bonds, blended finance, debt and private equity funding for social enterprises or other initiatives capable of delivering a financial return as well as making positive impact.

Geneva has a longstanding history as a hub for multilateral cooperation, known as "International Geneva," which has fostered the development of philanthropy with deep connections with international organisations, NGOs, and diplomatic bodies, philanthropic foundations and individual philanthropists. The module aims to define and understand what the International Geneva ecosystem is comprised of and understand the scope of what the international organisations, based in Geneva and other regions, are doing in the philanthropic sector.

Philanthropy often operates across diverse geographies and cultures, particularly in the Global South, where local philanthropic ecosystems play a crucial role in driving development and addressing systemic challenges. These ecosystems, deeply rooted in local contexts, bring invaluable insights into community needs, traditions, and dynamics, ensuring that initiatives are culturally sensitive, sustainable, and impactful. To avoid well-intentioned but poorly planned cross-border efforts, it is essential to build strong partnerships with local entities such as grassroots movements and NGOs, centering their voices in project planning and implementation. This module explores strategies for ethical collaboration, tailored advocacy, and mitigating unintended consequences, emphasizing the importance of moving beyond a "one-size-fits-all" approach. By highlighting the critical role of Global South philanthropic ecosystems, it underscores their contribution to fostering equitable development and reshaping global philanthropy to be more inclusive, responsive, and effective.

Artificial intelligence (AI)’s fast advancement is reshaping countless sectors, and with forecasts suggesting that AI will add trillions of dollars to the global economy, industries are discussing how to efficiently adapt to this new reality. Simultaneously, grassroots organisations all the way to ethical technology advocates are leading debates about the need to develop AI that is inclusive and ethical. In this module we delve into the two-fold relation between Philanthropy and AI, addressing two main questions: a) How can AI transform philanthropy; and b) what role should philanthropic organisations play in shaping the future of AI? In doing so, this module covers topics such as data science approaches in philanthropy, the basic nuts and bolts of some of the most relevant AI tools for philanthropy (e.g. natural language processing and large language models), the ethical challenges of AI, as well as the responsible use of AI – e.g. countering the risks of data misuse and power imbalances.