A Moment of Purpose: Reflections on the 2025 Global Philanthropy Report for Barbados
In the weeks following the birth of my daughter, I began writing the Barbados report for the 2025 GPEI—balancing motherhood and meaningful advocacy.
In the earliest days of becoming a mother, I found a quiet moment to contribute to something meaningful.
Just two weeks postpartum, I began writing the Barbados chapter of the 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI)—a global report released by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy that assesses how enabling or challenging the conditions are for giving and nonprofit activity in 95 countries and economies.
In that tender season of new motherhood, this work became a touchstone. It helped me reconnect with a sense of purpose, gave me clarity amid the haze of sleepless nights, and reminded me why I’ve spent the last 12 years advocating for stronger social systems and community development in Barbados.
And now, that work is live. Barbados, alongside Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Bahamas, has been included in this groundbreaking report for only the second time. And while our score was the lowest among the Caribbean nations assessed, this is not a reason to despair. In fact, I believe it’s one of the most important opportunities we’ve had to chart a better future for our civil society.
What is the Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI)?
The GPEI is the most comprehensive international study on the enabling environment for philanthropy. It assesses six critical factors:
Ease of operating a philanthropic organization
Domestic tax and fiscal policies
Cross-border philanthropic flows
Political environment
Economic environment
Socio-cultural influences
In its 2025 edition, the report also continues tracking how the COVID-19 pandemic and broader global disruptions—including climate events and economic shocks—have affected nonprofit sectors worldwide.
The Caribbean region’s participation only began in 2022, making this a relatively new but incredibly important benchmark for us.
Whether in Barbados or abroad, I’m always advocating for the Caribbean to have a seat at the global philanthropy table.
Key Findings for Barbados
As the country expert for Barbados, I provided contextual analysis based on the lived experiences of nonprofit leaders, community organizations, and donors navigating our philanthropic space. Here are some of the major insights:
1. Our Legal Framework Is Severely Outdated
Barbados’ laws regulating charities have not been significantly revised since 1985. This means the nonprofit landscape is governed by a framework that predates the internet, mobile banking, online fundraising, and modern development practices. Organizations often face excessive bureaucracy with little institutional support.
In contrast, countries like the Bahamas have recently modernized their regulatory environment following extensive consultation between government and civil society. Barbados is overdue for the same.
2. Tax Incentives Exist—But They’re Not Driving Giving
Yes, charitable tax incentives are available. Individuals and corporations can deduct certain charitable contributions from their taxable income. But few people are aware of these incentives, and even fewer claim them. There is no centralized data on how often this benefit is used or what kinds of organizations are supported through it.
Additionally, the process for claiming these deductions is opaque and inconsistently applied, leading to confusion among potential donors.
3. Digital Giving Is Growing—But We’re Not Ready
Across the Caribbean, the pandemic accelerated the push toward digital fundraising and mobile money. But Barbados—and many of our neighbors—remain chronically under-banked. Many small organizations, especially those in rural areas or run informally, still struggle to open bank accounts or meet Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
This severely limits the ability of charitable organizations to receive funds online, apply for international grants, or access donor platforms that are standard in other countries.
4. There Is Political Goodwill, But Poor Infrastructure
Government leaders in Barbados are generally supportive of philanthropic and nonprofit efforts. However, there is still a widespread lack of understanding about the sector’s full scope, impact, and potential. Public policies that affect charitable work are often outdated or inconsistent across ministries, and government offices that handle nonprofit compliance are under-staffed and under-resourced.
This creates delays and disincentivizes compliance with formal registration or reporting practices, particularly for smaller community groups.
5. The Sector Lacks Professionalization and Investment
Philanthropy in Barbados is largely driven by informal giving, corporate donations tied to marketing, and a handful of grantmaking organizations. Our nonprofit sector is not well-resourced, and there is little support for professional development, leadership training, or long-term financial planning.
In such an environment, it becomes difficult for charitable organizations to scale impact, retain staff, or invest in innovation. This is further compounded by high national debt levels, which limit the government’s ability to directly fund social programs or nonprofit partnerships.
The Broader Caribbean Picture
Zooming out, the Caribbean is a region rich in generosity. Mutual aid has been embedded in our communities for generations. What is now called “crowdfunding” is, in many ways, simply a formalized version of what Caribbean people have always done: rally support when someone is in need.
But institutional philanthropy—the kind that builds hospitals, supports policy change, funds innovation, and delivers long-term social value—remains underdeveloped.
According to the regional GPEI findings:
Governments in the region tend to be supportive, but lack a deep understanding of the philanthropic sector.
Most countries face similar issues of outdated laws, banking access, and inconsistent tax enforcement.
Churches and businesses continue to be the most active sources of institutional giving.
Climate change, social justice, and gender equity are emerging as central issues for philanthropic action—but the resources to address them locally remain limited.
The report also notes that individual donors across the region tend to give quietly, with strong cultural preferences for privacy around money and philanthropy. As a result, much of the giving that happens never makes it into national data.
So Where Do We Go From Here?
I believe this report is more than just an analysis—it’s an invitation.
We now have the data and insights to advocate for change. And the steps we need to take are clear:
Modernize our nonprofit laws to reflect current realities, such as online giving, diverse organizational models, and public accountability.
Increase awareness of tax incentives and simplify the process for claiming them.
Improve banking access for charitable organizations, especially smaller and rural ones.
Support nonprofit leadership development through training, funding, and peer learning.
Encourage data transparency to build trust and inform evidence-based policy.
A Personal Reflection
Writing this report while holding my newborn daughter reminded me why this work matters. I want her to grow up in a Barbados where generosity is not just a value passed down—but a practice made possible by thoughtful systems, clear policies, and empowered communities.
We already have the spirit. Now we need the structure.
As I look ahead, I’m committed to continuing this work—not only for my daughter’s future but for the future of every child growing up in a region that has always known how to give, even when systems made it hard.
If you care about community, development, or social impact, I invite you to read the full Caribbean report. Let’s start the conversation about what comes next.
📖 Read the full Caribbean Regional Report here.
📖 Read the full Global Philanthropy Environment Index Report here.
Let’s use this moment as a launchpad—for dialogue, reform, and collective action.
