The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is proud to announce that in 2024, 46.4% of our grantmaking work within Global Majority countries supported locally led organizations – exceeding the Foundation’s original pledge.
That pledge was made in 2023, when the Foundation joined a global coalition of donors and international development institutions in endorsing a commitment to Locally Led Development. Locally led development is the process in which local actors – including individuals, communities, networks, organizations, private entities, and governments – set their own agendas, develop solutions, and bring the capacity, leadership, and resources to make those solutions a reality.
Because our work on urgent global challenges like climate change, reproductive health, and ocean health spans multiple countries, we made a commitment to strengthen and elevate local leadership where this work takes place. We pledged that at least 25% of our funds spent in countries outside the U.S. will be directed to local organizations and leaders.
“Local organizations bring the knowledge and connections that make solutions last. Yet for too long, they have received only a sliver of development and philanthropic funds. Surpassing our 25% commitment in 2024 is just one step forward, and we know there is much more to do to ensure local leaders have the resources they need to drive change in their own communities.”
Lasting progress happens when those most affected by the issues lead the way, with local organizations as essential partners working alongside a wider ecosystem of regional and global changemakers. That’s why the Packard Foundation will continue to invest intentionally in locally led organizations, while recognizing and supporting the full diversity of actors—local, national, and global—who must work together to address the world’s most complex challenges.
“This is both a milestone and a motivation. We seek to elevate the perspectives of those rooted in the places where we work. Lasting progress requires a strong civil society where local leaders have the rights and resources to drive change, and we are committed to partnering with them to support the solutions their communities envision.”
We call on our colleagues in philanthropy and global development to join us in this commitment. We recognize that it will take exploring different approaches, learning from each other, and evolving our practices to empower local actors and propel progress across the issues we all care about.
