Trust, Impact, and What’s Changed: What does the Trust-Based vs Traditional Philanthropy debate look like in 2026?

As philanthropy continues to evolve, the question is no longer whether trust-based or traditional models are “better,” but how funders can intentionally design approaches that balance accountability, learning, and community voice. Revisiting insights from our Philanthropy at a Crossroads whitepaper, this post explores what’s changed—and what’s becoming clearer—in 2025.