Shaping Philanthropy

Deep-dive conversations with philanthropists, CSR professionals, and nonprofit thought leaders from across the Arab region. Shaping Philanthropy is brought to you by Circle , a partnership between Philanthropy Age and Pearl Initiative , and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Shaping Philanthropy is a business podcast hosted by Philanthropy Age, with 13 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Philanthropy Age hosts Shaping Philanthropy, a business show with 13 episodes published.

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  Episode #5

  Geetha Murali on the ripple effect of education

  Nov 24, 202529 minS2

  <p>Room to Read is a global nonprofit working to address educational, gender and economic inequities affecting children around the world. Since its launch in 2000, the NGO has deployed almost US$1bn to deliver foundational learning to more than 52 million children, including thousands across Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine.</p><p>It’s literacy pillar includes teacher training, publishes local language books, and develops school and community libraries, and through its Girls Education Programme, it delivers life skills education, mentorship and other community engagement. </p><p>Room to Read’s latest initiative, She Creates Change, is a global multimedia storytelling campaign desig...

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  Episode #5

  Nafez Dakkak on MENA’s first impact investment fund

  Sep 30, 202533 minS2

  <p>In this special live recording of the Shaping Philanthropy podcast, <b>Nafez Dakkak</b>,  shares the story behind launching Anara Impact Capital, a groundbreaking US$50 million fund to support startups across MENA focused on learning, climate, and well-being. </p><p>Anchored by Alfanar Venture Philanthropy, Anara is the first regionally-backed impact investment fund of its kind.</p><p>The episode opens with a personal reflection on growing up in occupied Palestine and Dakkak’s decision to pivot from neuroscience to economics at Yale. “I realised that if I became a neurosurgeon, I'd be saving one person at a time, but if...

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  Episode #4

  Yousuf Caires on the triple bottom line

  Aug 27, 202534 minS2

  <p><b>Yousuf Caires</b> is the executive director of <b>Expo City Dubai Foundatio</b>n, a new nonprofit organisation established by Expo City Dubai Authority to take forward the legacy of the Expo Live programme.</p><p>In this episode of Shaping Philanthropy, Yousuf talks about why Dubai is so committed to supporting social entrepreneurs and how the new foundation is giving UAE university graduates the chance to launch new ventures through its Changemakers Academy.</p><p>“We are trying to create a new wave of grassroots entrepreneurs and create a bridge for graduating students who feel like it...

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  Episode #3

  Sunil Lalvani on finding a new North Star

  Jun 14, 202535 minS2

  <p><b>Sunil Lalvani</b> is a social entrepreneur and impact advocate who transitioned from running a global electronics business to tackling one of the world’s most urgent challenges, sustainable access to safe water. </p><p>As the founder and CEO of Project Maji (Swahili for water), he now spends his time managing a network of solar-powered water kiosks to ensure long-term, cost-effective solutions for communities across Africa.</p><p>Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, Project Maji provides more than 300 million litres of clean water to some 400,000 people across rural Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda every year by combining frontline com...

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  Episode #2

  Maria Ahlström-Bondestam on making change happen

  Apr 30, 202528 minS2

  <p>"Money alone is not the solution to the challenges we have today. The solution is to get us to change how we how we act.” </p><p>That is one of messages shared by Maria Ahlström-Bondestam, a fifth-gen Finnish philanthropist, during her interview on Shaping Philanthropy.</p><p>Speaking down the line from Helsinki, Maria shares her family’s journey into philanthropy, explains the focus on women and girls, how she measures impact, and why she takes collaboration so seriously.</p><p>A co-founder of the <b>Eva Ahlström Foundation</b>, and the <b>Ahlström Collective Impact <...

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