Participatory grantmaking: from research to practice

In this webinar, hear about the launch of the new research in participatory grant making – the emerging practice of involving grantees and communities in decision-making on grant allocation. Undertaken by the Centre for Evidence and Implementation and commissioned by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, this new and leading research looks at the evidence for participatory grantmaking approaches, how they have been applied in practice, what such approaches can achieve, and recommendations for the sector to advance these approaches. 

Presenters will introduce participatory grantmaking and the evidence in this area, highlight the recommendations from the research report, discuss practical tips and considerations and explore questions during a dedicated Q&A time. 

Please note: This session will be recorded. Presenters will share their thoughts and views in conversation, but this webinar will not offer any financial advice.

Session Presenters

Maryanna Abdo –  Managing Director for Singapore and Asia, Centre for Evidence and Implementation 

Maryanna has lived in Asia since 2012, supporting organisations to develop strategies and capture innovations that maximise impact across more than 25 countries. Her clients have included governments, foundations, impact investors, non-profits, multilateral donors, and educational institutional. In her role with CEI, Mary supports clients to maximise the impact of the programs they fund. She brings a particular interest in evidence driven philanthropy. 

Previously, Mary was with global strategy house L.E.K Consulting, where she was a Senior Manager and founding member of the firm’s global education practice. She was previously Vice President at EY-Parthenon. In both institutions she led in the education team’s work with public and social impact clients, while also developing thought leadership initiatives, authoring major reports for USAID, DFID, World Bank Group, Qatar Foundation, and Jacob Foundation, among others.

Before joining Parthenon in Mumbai in 2012, Mary was a manager at the Young Foundation, a social innovation think-and-do-tank in London. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, where she was a Pforzheimer Fellow in Non-Profit Management, and a Master from the College of Europe, which she attended as a Fulbright Fellow. She has a Bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from the University of Southern California, which she attended as a Trustee Scholar. 

Vanessa Rose PhD –  Director, Centre for Evidence and Implementation 

Vanessa is a CEI Director and Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Monash University with over 20 years’ experience in health and human services research and evaluation. Her experience spans a diverse range of research methodologies from randomised controlled trials of child development interventions to continuous quality improvement with child protection service agencies and participatory action research with young people living in disadvantaged communities to improve wellbeing. Vanessa leads multiple evaluations of programs across countries, including those within contentious or highly sensitive contexts, designed to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families to assist governments and service delivery agencies in decision-making for future investment. She is also experienced evidence synthesis and knowledge translation activities resulting in policy relevant, easy to interpret findings and recommendations. Vanessa is a standing member and convenor of CEI’s expert Methods Lab.  

Chloe Ang –  Research Assistant, Centre for Evidence and Implementation 

Chloe is a researcher with experience in behavioural science and childhood development. She has worked across both academic and consumer research contexts where she was involved in conducting research and translating it into actionable insights. She has worked on a variety of projects, including investigating the role of numerical cognition in children’s sharing abilities, and applying behavioural insights to design a digital health app aimed at improving sleep.

Prior to joining CEI, Chloe worked as a Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore, and in product development at a digital health start-up. As a Research Assistant at CEI, Chloe provides research support for projects across a range of sectors, including reviewing of literature, data collection, and developing research frameworks.

She holds a Master’s degrees in Economic and Consumer Psychology from Leiden University, Netherlands and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Bath, UK.

Jo Taylor – Chief Executive Officer, Siddle Family Foundation

Jo has 25+ years of leading for-purpose organisations. Over her career, she has raised over $100m leading for-purpose organisations and has distributed more than $400m globally through philanthropic organisations. She knows how hard it is to fundraise, spend and donate money effectively if you want to create transformational change.

Jo is the inaugural CEO of the Siddle Family Foundation, a non-executive director of the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) and Asthma Australia, the Chair of the Pay What it Takes coalition, a Leap Ambassador, and a co-founder of PRISM; advising  philanthropic and for-purpose leaders supporting them to create deeper impact. She lives in regional NSW with a partner, and teenagers who keep her engaged and a little bit exhausted. 

Dr Renee Lim – Doctor in Palliative Care and Geriatrics Departments in NSW, and CEO of Changineers

Renee Lim is a performer, educator and medical doctor. In addition to her appearances on Australian film and TV including The Dry, Unusual Suspects, Clickbait, Ask The Doctors, East West 101 and Please Like Me, and theatre works like As Luck Would Have It, The Wolves, Grace Under Pressure, and His Mothers Voice, Renee is the Director of Program Development at the Pam McLean Centre (a centre designed to improve communication in the health sector using behavioural psychology, and character improvisation), designing all their experiential courses, and defining strategy and support for their expert team, as well as being an educator at the University of Sydney and UNSW, and doing 1:1 coaching.  She is also a successful presenter and public speaker across multiple sectors.   

She is a locum doctor in Palliative Care and Geriatrics Departments in NSW, and CEO of Changineers, an Educational Technology social enterprise.  Her consulting work in the areas of the Human Factor and Engagement across the For Purpose sector have most recently seen her as an Advisor to the Paul Ramsay Foundation, running their Peer-to-Peer Program, running culture change programs for groups like MSF and WSLHD FLASH, and as a consultant to Violet, supporting people caring for those at the end of life. In her spare time, she is a co-creator of nayinthelife.com, a wellbeing online creative collaboration with writers, Clare Hennessy and Abigail Honey, and is a writer, producer and director with KFilms. Most recently, she has taken on the role of Director of Engagement at The Vault at KXT on Broadway.  

All of this work is part of her goal to help people find value in themselves, and therefore, be comfortable with who they are @anayinthelife.  

This event is for Philanthropy Australia members and the broader international community.