{"id":518,"date":"2024-05-09T10:17:59","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T09:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/philanthropy\/?p=518"},"modified":"2024-05-09T10:23:44","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T09:23:44","slug":"moonshot-philanthropy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/philanthropy\/2024\/05\/09\/moonshot-philanthropy\/","title":{"rendered":"Moonshot Philanthropy"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Karl Wilding
\nMoonshot philanthropy is an emerging approach where philanthropists deploy capital at scale to accelerate ambitious but achievable ideas or interventions.<\/p>\n

In an era of complex global challenges, solutions often seem out of reach \u2013 much like setting foot on the moon did just two generations ago when US President John F Kennedy set out the first \u2018moonshot goal\u2019 of landing a man [sic] safely on the moon and returning him to earth safely. Reaching the moon required ambition, scale, and expertise, with less computing power than a modern smartphone. Tackling today’s ‘wicked’ problems, such as climate change, curing cancer or rising polarisation, might require a similar audacious approach, albeit with new tools. Enter ‘moonshot philanthropy.’<\/p>\n

\"Man<\/a>
Man walks on the Moon – 1969 newspapers (Kennedy Space Center)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moonshot philanthropy is an emerging approach where philanthropists deploy capital at scale to accelerate ambitious but achievable ideas or interventions. It is characterised by working with communities and experts across business and government. It is an approach that emphasises learning from failure, long-term (10+ years) commitment and stretching goals.<\/p>\n

Traditional philanthropic approaches have their merits but also face criticism. The vogue for large scale, ambitious investments \u2013 aka \u2018Big Bets<\/a>\u2019 and \u2018audacious\u2019 philanthropy<\/a> – might seem out of step amid calls for community, trust-based giving. Moreover, approaches that aim for measurable difference at scale have been argued to prioritise quantifiable solutions over complex problems where no obvious solution is in sight.<\/p>\n

Moonshot philanthropy seeks to address these limitations. The approach aims to “privatise failure and socialise success”<\/a> such that donors bear the financial risk whilst the rewards are made available to all, and to remain humble in the pursuit of ambitious goals. Importantly, it may unlock significant capital sums from donors more motivated by catalytic than incremental change. This matters because scarcity of funding is arguably the biggest barrier for those seeking to solve society\u2019s problems.<\/p>\n

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“Being on the Philanthropic Studies MA programme really has been quite life changing. I found it challenging, rewarding and really the most wonderful experience.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Delivered by distance learning, Kent’s MA Philanthropic Studies enables you to balance your professional development with your personal and work life. To find out more, email philanthropy@kent.ac.uk<\/a> or visit our site now.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Examples of successful moonshot philanthropy range from funding civil rights and equalities campaigns to the eradication of polio. Current moonshots include finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, developing carbon-free cement, and tackling deforestation to combat climate change \u2013 aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n

The moonshot approach is attracting significant interest across the public and private sectors. But it is worth remembering that the next moonshot attempted by a US President was Nixon\u2019s \u2018War on Cancer\u2019 \u2013 a failure. And moonshot approaches can be applied too often, without sufficient clarity about why the approach is suitable.<\/p>\n

Mission-based approaches<\/a> are a promising way of scaling innovations that address humanity’s most pressing problems, but this remains emerging practice. If moonshot philanthropy is to inspire a new generation of philanthropists, we need a better understanding of what constitutes a good moonshot. What ingredients maximise the chances of a moonshot succeeding? And to what problems is the moonshot approach best suited? As our research begins to address these and other questions, we are also interested in whether the approach addresses some of the dominant criticisms of philanthropy.<\/p>\n

If you are involved in tackling a moonshot goal \u2013 either as a donor or a partner \u2013 and are willing to talk about your experience and share your learning, we\u2019d love to hear from you. Please contact me, Dr Karl Wilding, at K.Wilding@kent.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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