Senior leaders from philanthropic institutions, governments, multilateral organisations, the private sector, and the Caribbean diaspora convened in Kingston from February 9-12, for the Future Forward Caribbean Philanthropy Forum, hosted by the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance (CariPhil).

The Forum delivered a clear message: the Caribbean must move from fragmented giving to building philanthropic infrastructure capable of financing resilience, equity, and long-term development at scale.

“The future belongs to those who show up,” said Anthea McLaughlin, CEO of CariPhil. “Future Forward is not just an event—it is an ecosystem under construction: Caribbean-led, globally connected, data-informed, and trust-anchored. We are building the infrastructure that allows generosity to scale and endure.”

The Forum also underscored the scale of influence in the room: several philanthropic leaders present, collectively steward an estimated US$30–40 billion in capital, shaping decisions from the Caribbean to global funding tables.

Originally scheduled for late 2025 but postponed due to Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday, October 2025, the convening reflected the climate realities facing a region that contributes less than one per cent of global emissions yet bears disproportionate climate and economic shocks.

Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, emphasised that Jamaica’s sustainability ambitions require strong partnerships, affirming the role of philanthropy and cross-sector collaboration.

Allison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), highlighted the importance of policy alignment and coordinated public–philanthropic efforts to advance regional climate resilience and gender-equitable development.

Discussions throughout the Forum addressed climate finance gaps, women-led resilience, food security, diaspora capital mobilisation, blended finance, and philanthropy’s role in driving systems-level change. CariPhil reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration across philanthropy, public institutions, and private-sector partners to finance inclusive and sustainable development across the Caribbean.