Jamie Webb: Reflections on Philanthropy & Risk at the Fore Funders Collective

In June, I was pleased to attend a breakfast hosted by the Fore Funders Collective in London. The Fore is a venture philanthropy fund that supports high-potential leaders and impactful grassroots organisations, backed by a community of philanthropists, foundations, and companies.

The theme of the morning was a compelling one: Does high-impact philanthropy require high risk?

Keynote speakers Priya Gupta—philanthropist, coach, and speaker—and Jerry Loy—a finance expert and governance advisor—shared insights that strongly echoed the values many GPC members embrace: trust-based, impact-driven, and transformational giving.

Priya outlined her holistic approach to philanthropy, which spans traditional grants, program-related investments, and social enterprise funding. She emphasised the importance of leveraging not only financial capital but also relational and social capital to drive change. She also reminded us that wealth, at its best, is shared.

A key theme that emerged from the discussion was the persistent risk aversion among funders—especially toward grassroots organisations. Yet, as was noted, much of this perceived risk stems from a lack of understanding. In a world facing urgent and overlapping crises, the cost of inaction may be greater than the risk of experimentation. Investing in leadership and organisational capacity was framed as one way to de-risk philanthropy while still enabling innovation.

We also explored the mindset of many first-generation philanthropists, who often carry a strong sense of stewardship and responsibility. This introspection can be healthy, but it can also lead to hesitation. Finding a balance between caution and courageous giving is an ongoing tension.

It was also a pleasure to reconnect with former GPC member Tony Bury at the event—a reminder of the diverse and values-aligned community we are proud to be part of.

Jamie Webb, GPC Managing Director