People First
Donor Chapter
A peer community of funders investing in leadership development as a path to sustainable development and systems change.
Purpose
What is the Donor Chapter?
The People First Donor Chapter is a peer community of funders investing — or interested in investing — in leadership development as a path to sustainable development and systems change.
The Chapter aims to build a shared understanding, to exchange learnings and insights, to inform each others' practices, and to enhance coordination among donors in this field.
The Chapter Aims To
- Build shared understanding of key concepts and types of investments
- Exchange learnings and insights across funders
- Inform and strengthen individual giving practices
- Enhance coordination among donors in the field
Why This Matters Now
Closing the Gap in Philanthropic Learning
Across philanthropy, several funders are investing in leadership development, but often without shared language, a detailed mapping of who is doing what, or easy ways to compare approaches and inform each others' strategies.
Learning remains siloed, and it can be difficult to articulate what is being funded, why it matters, and what meaningful impact looks like across sectors and contexts.
The Chapter exists to close that gap in a way that is insightful, practical and useful to funders — strengthening both individual portfolios and the broader field.
"Funders are investing, but without shared language or a common map of the field."
"Learning remains siloed — making it hard to articulate what meaningful impact looks like."
"The Chapter exists to close that gap in a way that is insightful, practical and useful."
What This Chapter Will Do
Three Linked Priorities
The Chapter will focus on three mutually reinforcing priorities to strengthen both individual funders and the broader field.
Build Understanding
Develop shared definitions and a framework that clarifies types of leadership development investments and provides clear examples across geographies and sectors.
Deepen Peer Learning
Convene funders in sustained peer exchange — through regular virtual sessions and in-person gatherings — to share experiences, case examples, and emerging insights.
Produce Field Resources
Create and curate public outputs — including synthesis briefs, donor mappings, and measurement frameworks — that strengthen investment practices across the field.
Key Activities
Peer Exchange Network
Engage 20+ funders and donor organizations in sustained peer exchange on leadership development philanthropy.
Shared Definitions & Framework
Develop shared definitions and a framework that clarifies types of investments and examples.
Donor Mapping
Produce a donor mapping by geography, category, and sector to reveal the landscape of investment in the field.
Measurement Approaches
Advance measurement approaches for different leadership development investments, including metrics and ROI framing.
Case Examples & Synthesis Briefs
Curate case examples and synthesis briefs that distill emerging learnings and insights from across the field.
Regular Convenings
Design regular calls and in-person convenings for peer learning and agenda setting to advance investment practices.
How Funders Will Engage
Practical. Respectful of Time.
Engagement is designed to respect time and remain practical. Participation involves sustained peer dialogue and ad hoc contribution in the form of shared outputs, resources, and case studies.
Regular Peer Sessions
Virtual convenings focused on shared definitions, measurement, and emerging learning across the community of funders.
In-Person Exchanges
Occasional in-person sessions tied to major global gatherings — including Skoll World Forum and UNGA — for deeper dialogue and relationship building.
Collaborative Outputs
Ad hoc contributions to shared resources — case studies, briefs, and frameworks — that serve both members and the broader philanthropic field.
Key Activities & Timeline
Roadmap 2025–2026
First Round of Conversations
Individual 1:1 calls with donors to share the Chapter's purpose, gather feedback, and align on priorities and timeline.
First Virtual Convening
Group session to align on shared definitions and types of leadership development investments, and to refine the purpose and engagements.
Skoll World Forum Gathering
In-person donor session in Oxford, UK, to surface insights from early exchanges, identify case examples, and shape the next phase of shared learning.
Second Virtual Convening
Session focused on measurement and evidence, including metrics and ROI framing for leadership development investments.
UNGA Gathering
In-person touchpoint alongside UNGA in New York, USA, to align on priorities and identify areas for collaboration.
Get Involved
If you are interested in participating in this chapter or if you have any questions, please reach out to us directly.
Contact UsOr write to: thaischao@fundacaolemann.org.br