A Hybrid Approach to Participatory Philanthropy: Lessons from Year One

The Accelerator for Shifting Gender Norms through Education (the “Accelerator”) is a global initiative designed to support and spread evidence-based models that shift gender norms during adolescence, with the broader goal of advancing gender equality in and through education. As a new, hybrid initiative that blends participatory grantmaking with a collective impact approach, the Accelerator emerges at a time when philanthropy is increasingly interested in models that challenge traditional top-down funding and decision-making. To support its work, the Accelerator asked the Capstone team to assess its first year of operations and identify lessons to strengthen future implementation and key takeaways for the field. The team undertook a literature review, analyzed stakeholder survey data, and conducted interviews with participants and partners to understand strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. The team’s final deliverables included a report with practical recommendations on governance, budgeting, processes, inclusion, and shared learning, along with a brief external-facing summary to help the Accelerator communicate key insights to the broader philanthropy field.