What We Do
We support people, grassroots organisations and networks that are building more inclusive, equitable and just futures in the communities in which we collectively work.
We do this through three inter-connected strands of work listed below. Please click on each icon for further details.
Partnership Funding
This is our core funding work. To date, we have focused upon specific geographies and contexts, rather than a specific thematic area as we seek to try to fill gaps and try to play the most useful role in each context that we can.
From this approach, two broad areas of work have emerged organically:
1. A focus upon child protection and case management support with children and their families from marginalised communities in the contexts in which we fund.
2. A focus upon grassroots organisations that are working with and supporting ‘people on the move,’ whether planned or forced migration.
Going forward, the vast majority of our grants will centre upon these issues, often in an inter-connected manner.
We give flexible grants (or other types of financing, as appropriate) and thought partnership support, where we can, to values aligned social purpose organizations and networks.
Our partners are predominantly grassroots organisations that are from and/or deeply embedded in the communities they work with, are deeply collaborative and multi-faceted in their approach. We aim to develop deep, open relationships that are based on trust, mutual respect, flexibility, learning and shared values.
We know this takes time - often years - and it is not easy. In our experience having patience and allowing the necessary time is the only way to tackle power dynamics, to fund effectively and, most importantly, to achieve our shared goals with partners.
​
We don’t get it right every time, and we’re learning all the time. This is what we strive for though. For more details please see the How We Work and Where We Work pages.
​
For all aspects of our philanthropic funding, we find partners through pro-active outreach via our networks and referrals from existing partners.
​
​
​
Connecting, Learning & Sharing
Our own experience running non-profits and the experience of our partners is that connecting, learning and sharing is a fundamental part of achieving long-term change.
As this is a key component that we look for in our partners, so we must work to embody this ourselves. We aim to do this through:
-
Regular blogs to openly share our learning and share insights / resources from our partners.
-
Funding networks and coalitions, where appropriate.
-
We will commission specific research in areas of interest to our partners and ourselves to contribute to shared learning.
​
In 2022 we developed a new program of work under this strand, the Firetree Senior Fellowship, that aims to support senior leaders working towards more just, equitable and inclusive futures in communities that Firetree works with that are in a point of transition in their social impact work. More details can be found here.
Collaborative Initiatives
In special circumstances, we develop or incubate collaborative initiatives, all of which share the same overall approach and values as the other strands of Firetree Philanthropy’s work . These circumstances include:
When a clear gap exists in a current context we are focused upon, where we have direct applicable knowledge / experience of the problem(s) and can work with others to play a role in directly designing interventions to address these.
​
Tondo Community Initiative (TCI) is an example of this. TCI is an initiative in partnership with the community of Tondo, Manila and Stairway Foundation.
It is a separate legal entity that receives financial and, where possible, thought partnership support from Firetree Philanthropy. TCI collaborates with stakeholders in Tondo and Metro Manila at large. You can read more about TCI here.