Dear Colleagues,

At the Institute of Applied Metatheory (IAM), we think deeply about the metacrisis and how to build the new structures and institutions we need to address it and lay the groundwork for the Transformation Age that is already underway. But while we do the work to create these institutions of the future, we must also do the work of helping existing institutions evolve to meet the tremendous challenges and opportunities we face now, in the present.

To that end, IAM is pleased to announce a new effort I’m leading called the “Evolution of Philanthropy“ as part of the Integrative Social Sector initiative. The Evolution of Philanthropy is a project that maps out the recent developmental history and trajectory of society’s oldest institution for investing in social change and generating public goods: Philanthropy. Precisely because it enjoys a degree of freedom from shifting market evaluation and political values, philanthropy stands as one of the most critical levers of social transformation currently available to society.

Philanthropic foundations also occupy a unique position at the intersection of theory and practice that should interest us as applied metatheory practitioners. These organizations have the potential to serve as vital bridges between academia and nonprofits, creating new knowledge economies that can translate research into action and practice into theory. This distinctive role enables philanthropy to catalyze the evolution of the entire social sector through the integration of diverse knowledge systems and the cultivation of innovative approaches to complex challenges.

Over the last 35 years, the philanthropic field has gone through two major paradigm shifts, which essentially correlate to the modern and postmodern worldviews. The first shift, which began in the early 90s, is the advent of Strategic Philanthropy, which brought professional rigor, evidence-based methodologies, and outcome-focused approaches to the sector. This modernist turn emphasized measurable results and strategic planning, applying business principles to social change work.

The second shift emerged in the 2010s with the rise of Empowerment Philanthropy, which centered community wisdom and recognized the importance of addressing systemic power imbalances. This postmodern approach fundamentally challenged traditional philanthropic power dynamics, emphasizing equity, inclusion, and power redistribution.

Now, we believe we are witnessing the emergence of a third paradigm: Integrative Philanthropy. This approach transcends and includes the strengths of both previous paradigms while adding the sophisticated understanding of how complex systems actually evolve and transform that integrative metatheory provides. Rather than imposing predetermined solutions or assuming local wisdom alone can address systemic challenges, Integrative Philanthropy works with natural developmental processes while integrating multiple forms of knowledge and action.

This developmental systems map illuminates this evolution across multiple dimensions, including:

• Vision and Viewpoint: How philanthropic leaders understand their role and make sense of complexity
• Programs and Practices: The methodologies and tools used in grantmaking and evaluation
• Strategy and Systems: Approaches to structuring systems change at multiple levels of scale
• Culture and Collaboration: How organizations work together and build shared meaning

We believe this framework offers philanthropic leaders and organizations practical guidance for developing more sophisticated capabilities for catalyzing systems change while avoiding the reductionism of previous paradigms.

I invite you to explore the full developmental systems map here:

Explore the “Evolution of Philanthropy” Map

I welcome your feedback and look forward to engaging in deeper conversations with you about this vision for how philanthropy can evolve to better address the unprecedented challenges of our time. If you would be interested in learning more about this project or getting involved, please submit your interest here. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaaleonard/

Thank you for being a part of this integrative movement.

In gratitude,

Josh Leonard
Institute of Applied Metatheory

About Josh Leonard
Josh Leonard is a seasoned social impact organizational leader with more than two decades of real-world experience developing strategy, culture, programs, and leaders through an integral lens. He brings 10+ years of executive leadership with the YMCA and the Institute for Cultural Evolution to bear on the emerging challenges organizations face today in grappling with the complexity of the 21st century. He has designed, led, and evaluated programs; nurtured thriving offline and online communities; led large, diverse staff teams; managed complex eight-figure budgets; created powerful leadership development programs; led strategic planning initiatives; and developed high-performing boards. Josh is a developmental leader who is adept at facilitating growth in individuals, teams, and organizations to achieve their goals for impact.