In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Coco Xiaonan Kou, Managing Director of Research at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who discusses the Global Philanthropy Tracker, a comprehensive research project. The Global Philanthropy Tracker aims to understand cross-border philanthropic outflows from 47 countries, covering various stages of economic development. Unlike traditional measures like official development aid, the Global Philanthropy Tracker compares philanthropic giving to other major financial resource flows, highlighting the increasing role of private philanthropy in addressing global societal issues.

Coco explains that the Global Philanthropy Tracker's significance lies in its ability to quantify the impact of philanthropy on global development, showcasing its growth over the past decades. Despite challenges such as limited data availability, the research team's collaboration with international partners and thorough data collection methods ensure a holistic picture of cross-border giving. The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding philanthropy's role alongside government aid, particularly in the face of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, where philanthropy has shown resilience.

Moreover, the podcast discusses the implications of the Global Philanthropy Tracker findings for fundraisers and policymakers. Fundraisers can leverage the report to demonstrate the importance of supporting local initiatives and effective communication with funders. Meanwhile, policymakers can use the Global Philanthropy Tracker to understand the collaborative nature of global philanthropy and design policies to improve the environment for cross-border giving. Coco also calls for contributions from listeners to enhance future iterations of the report, underscoring the ongoing need for data to further understand and support cross-border philanthropy.