Our Story

Global Philanthropy Partnership was founded in 2003 as a non-profit organization. While not a grant making organization, GPP serves as a strategic resource to promote international giving and raise awareness of global development issues including sustainability.

Philanthropy:

Global philanthropy, or global social investing also known as impact investing, is a growing field with numerous players and a variety of approaches.  To support a better understanding of this field, GPP has conducted original research, highlighted organizations who undertake best practices in philanthropy, and connected philanthropists and potential philanthropists with shared interests for engagement.  Browse our website library to read our original research and reports.

Local Giving, Global Impact:  After launching the Chicago Global Donors Network with like-minded globalists, Global Philanthropy Partnership created a database of Chicago-based non-profit organizations involved in global work with support from the Chicago Community Trust. Sorted by geography and area of focus, this searchable database linked Chicago area donors and donor advisors to local groups that share similar international interests and goals. The list also enabled groups to connect with each other and find synergies to promote their important work.  

On the forefront of the impact investing field, GPP, in conjunction with The Synergos Institute’s Global Philanthropist’s Circle and the World Economic Forum, published “Global Giving Matters” with the first issue in November 2001.  Global Giving Matters was a newsletter that presented best practices and innovations in philanthropy and social investment around the world and was published several times a year through 2015.

In addition to Philanthropy, GPP focused on sustainability and climate change in the Midwest and the establishment of biodiversity projects in Panama.

Climate & Sustainability:

A December 2005 workshop on climate change issues gathered participants from across sectors to discuss actions and challenges facing the Midwest region of the United States. Co-sponsored by the British Consulate in Chicago and the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, and supported by a grant from the Joyce Foundation, the workshop discussions identified short-, medium-, and long-term actions that could be pursued regionally.

In 2006, Global Philanthropy Partnership was awarded a planning grant from the Energy Foundation to follow up on the workshop dialogue, gather data and resources, and issue a report on potential next steps, which was published in April 2007.

In September 2008, with the support of GPP, the City of Chicago launched the Chicago Climate Action Plan. The charge and scope of the Chicago Climate Task Force was broad and ambitious. Dozens of experts and a nationally recognized research advisor committee took part in discussions.  Leading scientists were consulted to describe various scenarios for Chicago’s climate future and how these would impact life in the city.  Details of the 2008 plan can be found at www.chicagoclimateaction.org.

GPP also fiscally sponsored STAR Communities which became its own 501(c)3 in 2015.  STAR Communities is a nonprofit organization that works to evaluate, improve, and certify sustainable communities so they can achieve a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being for their residents.  The STAR framework helps communities track their sustainability progress and compare progress with each other across social, economic, and environmental performance areas.  For more information:  http://www.starcommunities.org

Panama:

GPP has supported efforts in Panama to help turn group of islands on the North coast of Panama into a conservation area including initiating a project with the International League of Conservation Photographers to publicize an event where volunteers work together to find and identify as many species as possible on the islands of Coiba, Jicaron, and Coibita.  Research is also under way to document the biodiversity of Coiba National Park (just West of Panama City) in the fight to preserve it and establish sustainable farming.  Other projects include:  working with a jaguar conservation program to monitor, document, and provide habitat protection of jaguars proving their population in Parque Nacional Cerro Hoya, and overseeing reforestation of cocobolo tress and other native species just outside the buffer zones of Coiba National Park.

We encourage you to browse the resources and links available on this site and to contact us for additional information.