From Transactional to Transformative: Enabling Philanthropic Impact in Ireland

This article first appeared in the inaugural issue of The Philanthropy Ireland Magazine, as part of OKC’s role as a session partner for the Innovate panel at the 2024 Philanthropy Symposium.

Philanthropy is a powerful force for social impact. The Irish philanthropy landscape has evolved significantly over recent years and is now backed by Ireland’s National Philanthropy Policy, along with support from various grant-making organisations and advocates like Philanthropy Ireland.

Since 2002, OKC has been working across the not-for-profit sector to enable philanthropic impact. We are passionate about driving social transformation through philanthropy and providing values-led, impact-driven counsel for our clients. As we look to the future of philanthropy, traditional giving models are being reimagined. Today, innovation in philanthropy is focused on impactful partnerships rather than just transactional gifts. It’s about fostering deeper relationships and embracing collaboration, shared knowledge and learnings. For philanthropists, this new approach offers a way to create sustainable, meaningful impact, using both expertise and funds.

The Shift to Relationship-Based Funding

One piece of advice we always share with not-for-profits is to prioritise friend-raising over fundraising. This relationship-based approach is becoming equally important for philanthropists and corporate partners. What may have been seen as a transactional process is evolving into something transformative. Relationship-based funding fosters long-term connections built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared vision. Donors are no longer solely financial supporters; today, they are engaged as valued stakeholders in an organisation’s mission. Similarly, charities aren’t just asking for money—they now also see the value of external expertise.

Focusing on relationships creates values-aligned partnerships where organisations can learn and grow from donors’ insights. This transforms philanthropy from a one-way street into a collaborative journey, where both sides work together toward a shared goal.

Connecting Great People to Great Causes

At OKC, we are committed to connecting great partners with great causes to enable great impact. One of the most powerful truths in philanthropy is that people give to people. Behind every philanthropic gift lies a personal story, connection, or shared belief that drives support for a cause. Donors must feel their values, passions and aspirations align with the organisations they support, fostering deeper commitment and sustained impact. 

One example of this is OKC’s recent support to a small group of high-impact donors whose passion for equine therapy and its benefits to children’s health, alongside their wish to create a fitting memorial to Jack de Bromhead, resulted in the creation of the Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre at ChildVision. These donors provided both their expertise on the build and their financial support to create an extraordinary new space for visually impaired and neurodiverse children to access life-changing equine therapies.  

To align with our values and commitment to the sector, OKC has also established the OKC Fund, managed through Community Foundation Ireland. Focused on supporting the research and infrastructure required to underpin philanthropic development, our Fund reflects our belief that smart philanthropy not only supports individual causes but also strengthens the broader social, economic and cultural ecosystem. 

OKC’s Philanthropy team, led by Mary O’Kennedy (Managing Director) and Brian Hatton (Philanthropy Consultant), are here to support individuals, families and businesses to  maximise their philanthropic impact and ensure long-term results by facilitating introductions to values-aligned causes and philanthropic intermediaries who can support their grant-making.

Driving Change with Corporate Philanthropy

In terms of corporate philanthropy, particularly in the increasingly important ESG context, businesses are looking at how they align their social investments with their business expertise and values. In this regard, Vodafone Ireland Foundation is at the forefront of innovative philanthropy, addressing the digital divide through partnerships with charities that have the expertise to make meaningful impact. OKC works with Vodafone on its Hi Digital programme, which provides training in partnership with ALONE and Irish Girl Guides, to bridge the digital gap for those aged 65+. This values-driven collaboration fosters inclusion, inter-generational engagement and well-being among Ireland’s older population.

Hi Digital exemplifies ESG-focused corporate philanthropy by leveraging technological expertise to address social issues, and tackling immediate challenges while building a more inclusive future. This initiative shows how values and goals-aligned philanthropy can drive lasting change.

“OKC has assisted the Vodafone Foundation in evaluating charitable projects. The experience has been truly professional...Always a pleasure to work with” - Vodafone Ireland Foundation

A New Era of Philanthropy

The future of philanthropy is being shaped by those willing to innovate, reimagine relationships, and embrace collaboration. At OKC, we are passionate about being part of this evolution, supporting charitable organisations to ensure they have the skills and resources to partner with philanthropy effectively while also enabling great people to connect to great causes! Whether it’s working with Vodafone to bridge the digital divide, advising a board on embedding a culture of philanthropy in their organisation or planning a capital campaign for a transformative initiative, the opportunity of contributing to a healthier and more inclusive society is incredibly rewarding. Together, we can turn innovative ideas into transformative action.