Increased social and political polarization in recent years has forced leaders in philanthropy to reconsider the ways in which charitable dollars–often in the form of Donor Advised Funds–may be inadvertently directed to dangerous and xenophobic activity, including but not limited to hate and extremist speech. The Horizon Forum provides a research based convening space for stakeholders in the grant-making community to address this shared public challenge by identifying best practices, exploring case stories, and developing practical solutions. It also creates opportunities for foundations to accelerate and grow their existing work in nurturing socio-economic equity, developing anti-racism initiatives, and advancing cultures of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sector.

The Horizon Forum’s work is grounded in the firm belief that long-term change in the sector must be developed by philanthropy’s own leadership. experience, and insight. It carries out its work through applied research practices of peer-learning, cross-sector dialogue and academic analysis. The initiative’s primary activity consists of hosting semi-annual dialogues with stakeholders and researchers familiar with the institutional landscape of philanthropy and unique challenges of self-regulation therein. It also partners with peer institutions and university-based research centers to provide public facing thought leadership and data-based recommendations for stakeholders. Finally, the program also provides direct services for foundations, assisting them in establishing processes and policies for vetting grantees and ensuring they protect their mission to nurture the public good and “do no harm” with their philanthropy.