Cultivating Hope Cultivating Hope

Supporting Changemaker Wellbeing

Studies consistently show that when people working for social change feel balanced, they can make a bigger difference. Prioritizing the wellbeing of all changemakers has the potential to amplify transformative change.

Cultivating Hope: Supporting Changemaker Wellbeing is a series of conversations hosted by Rohini Nilekani with leading philanthropists. Together they explore how the pressing funding gap for changemakers’ to have access to wellbeing resources is holding back progress both now and for future generations. 

MELINDA FRENCH GATES X ROHINI NILEKANI

Watch The 7-min Cut Of  The Conversation Between

MELINDA FRENCH GATES X ROHINI NILEKANI

Studies consistently show that when people working for social change feel balanced, they can make a bigger difference. Prioritizing the wellbeing of all changemakers has the potential to amplify transformative change.

Cultivating Hope: Supporting Changemaker Wellbeing is a series of conversations hosted by Rohini Nilekani (Season 1) with leading philanthropists. Together they explore how the pressing funding gap for changemakers’ access to wellbeing resources is holding back progress both now and for future generations.

This 7-minute cut is a recollection of our favorite highlights from the conversation!

CATCH GLIMPSES FROM THE CONVERSATIONCATCH GLIMPSES FROM THE CONVERSATION

LEARN MORE ABOUTLEARN MORE ABOUT

Philanthropy x Changemaker Wellbeing

Improving your wellbeing and supporting others can be challenging, especially in frontline social change work.

Here are simple actions for you and the global philanthropy community to try anytime. 

Explore our curated resources or join peer communities to create a future where philanthropy is a force for wellbeing.

Let’s invest in a future where philanthropy and wellbeing are at the heart of every individual and community.

Resources, Articles, Stories and Inspiring Projects Resources, Articles, Stories and Inspiring Projects

A selection of valuable insights and best practices from partner philanthropic organizations, all focused on improving mental health, social change, and community wellbeing:

Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Global Contemplation, Insight, and Impact Program Learning Review 

Peery Foundation Lit Review and Field Scan of mental health and wellbeing supports in the social change sector

Nonprofit wellbeing: A Call to Action to Funders (Peery Foundation)

Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, Rest Up Awards for local leaders

A 20-Year Retrospective on the Durfee Foundation Sabbatical Program

Smith Reynolds Foundation Sabbatical Program through the voices of their grantee partners

Rasmuson Foundation sabbatical program through the voices of their grantee partners

The Tudor Trust wellbeing grants description

Urgent Action Fund For Women’s Human Rights Asia + Pacific wellbeing grants description

Keep the Spark Alive grants from Imago Dei Fund

Don’t Just Listen, Act: Our Journey to Funding Wellness Grants – Libra Foundation

Chicago Beyond’s Whole Philanthropy approach embodies consciousness, connectedness, wellbeing of people

Supporting a Hidden Movement: Why Fund Inner-led Change? 

Mind Share Partners Resource Hub for Workplace Mental Health

1 Action 1 Action

What Can You Do For You And For The People You Care About?

Improving your personal wellbeing and supporting the wellbeing of those around you can feel like a challenge, especially if you work on the front lines of social change.
Our list of 1 actions offer you and those within the global philanthropy community some simple steps which you can do on any day. Check them out below!

Actions that we can take to improve our Personal WellbeingActions that we can take to improve our Personal Wellbeing

DIVE INTO THE TOPIC OF WELLBEING

CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

GROW YOUR WELLBEING TOOLS & PRACTICES

Actions that the Philanthropy Community can take to support Changemaker Wellbeing Actions that the Philanthropy Community can take to support Changemaker Wellbeing

  • Reduce grant application stress.
  • Provide multi-year and core support funding.
  • Offer direct funding for wellbeing  – such as wellbeing grants and stipends – to be allocated for self-care, therapy, team-building, etc.
  • Engage in ongoing conversation with changemakers to understand their specific wellbeing needs.
  • Trust changemakers and their organizations to define their own wellbeing priorities.
  • Create wellbeing programming for grantees such as wellbeing sessions in convenings, inner work activities, etc.
  • Support efforts to strengthen DEI policies which directly contribute to individual and organizational wellbeing.
  • Normalize wellbeing and mental health support so changemakers feel more permission to prioritize it.
  • Promote this topic in your networks and at philanthropic events or communities.
  • Invest in networks and platforms focused on changemaker wellbeing that enable peer learning and share resources.
  • Participate in our Funder + Wellbeing Group.
  • Help address the funding gap and fund organizations that do this work.

Manuel Bagorro

Hearth Summit Head of Arts

New York,
USA

Connect with MANUEL BAGORRO on Social Media :

Manuel Bagorro is a long-time Creative Advisor at Carnegie Hall, working on the design, planning and implementation of a range of programs. He is also Artistic Director of Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School in Rockport ME, Founder and Artistic Director of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) in Zimbabwe and served as a program advisor for CultureSummit Abu Dhabi in 2017 and 2018. He curated the arts program for the first Wellbeing Summit in Bilbao, 2022 and leads the artistic team for the Global Hearth Summit in Ljubljana, 2025. For the last 12 years, his work with Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School has resulted in a new approach to the organization’s educational offerings and community engagement programs. Under his leadership, the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) became one of the most significant artistic and social impact projects in Southern Africa, weathering the social, political and economic turmoil in Zimbabwe for more than a decade.

He is also a pianist, having performed extensively and won prizes in the Newport International and Royal Overseas League Piano Competitions. He performed in the John Schlesinger film, Madame Sousatzka, and appeared as soloist with the BBC Welsh and Cape Town Symphony Orchestras. He composed the music for a series of documentaries entitled Africa Unmasked and played for Queen Elizabeth II and other dignitaries at a State Banquet in London in 1995.

Join us on the path to Nonprofit Wellbeing Join us on the path to Nonprofit Wellbeing

at the GEO 2024 National Conference and beyond

Thank you for attending our community building session ‘Nonprofit Wellbeing: How to get there and who pays the bill?’ at the GEO conference this May 2024!

HOW TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION & BE INVOLVED

  • If you’d like access to the presentation slides from our session about organizational wellbeing, please click here to send a note to our Development and Partnership Lead, Dana Preston. 
  • Learn more about our Funders & Wellbeing Group and consider joining this global learning community. This is a group of foundations and grantmakers exploring the link between inner wellbeing and sustainable social change, to experiment with ways to put it into practice, and contribute to a culture shift in the philanthropic ecosystem.
  • Stay connected and updated with everything happening at The Wellbeing Project by signing up to our newsletter!
  • Schedule a call with Dana Preston, our Development and Partnership Lead to continue the conversation.

Your Online Hub Where Philanthropy Meets Wellbeing Your Online Hub Where Philanthropy Meets Wellbeing

Philanthropy is key to advancing the global wellbeing movement, normalizing the conversation, and providing the resources needed to make it a reality.
By strategically and swiftly allocating funds, philanthropy can support initiatives that prioritize holistic wellbeing for changemakers, creating positive impact that ripples across communities and the planet.

Explore our curated resources, join peer communities, and invest in a future where philanthropy is a force for individual, societal, and planetary wellbeing.
Together, let’s learn, grow, and invest in a future where philanthropy and wellbeing is at the heart of every individual and community.

EXPLORE PHILANTHROPY & WELLBEING FURTHEREXPLORE PHILANTHROPY & WELLBEING FURTHER

Dive Into Stories and Case Studies From Around the World

Paola Martins

Networks Advancement Coordinator

Caracas, Venezuela

Connect with Paola Martins on Social Media :

Paola, originally from Venezuela’s coastal region (Lecheria) and now residing in Caracas, is a Civil Engineer with a Master in Business Administration from IESA. Her expertise lies in commercial operations and strategic planning. During her leisure time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, watching series, and relaxing at her favorite spot—the beach. For Paola, wellbeing entails nurturing both physical and mental health.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

For me inner wellbeing involves connecting with our emotions, making peace with life’s journey and confidently navigating daily decisions, all while striving for balance.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Vitality

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Dedicating time to loved ones and prioritizing physical health through mindful nutrition and exercise. Additionally, I nurture my spiritual wellbeing by engaging in practices such as gratitude journaling and setting goals.

Why is it important that we prioritize individual, organizational and societal wellbeing?

Putting wellbeing first is really important for happiness and doing well. When individuals are healthy and fulfilled, they perform better, leading to stronger organizations and communities.