Developing an International Philanthropy Dataset: Reflections from the 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index

Authors

  • Afshan Paarlberg Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70902/hy4g6y13

Keywords:

global philanthropy, community-engaged research, local expertise, international datasets

Abstract

This research note reflects on the making of the 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI), an international index that assesses the enabling environment for philanthropy across 95 economies. Philanthropy is an umbrella concept that encompasses diverse meanings and traditions worldwide, and research on global philanthropy is often relative rather than absolute when comparing across differing legal, political, and social contexts. This reflection explores: 1) the challenges of undertaking comparative research 2) the process of developing an international philanthropy dataset, and 3) the practical benefits of comparative philanthropy data.

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Published

2025-12-22

Issue

Section

Research Notes

How to Cite

Developing an International Philanthropy Dataset: Reflections from the 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index. (2025). Philanthropia: A Humanities Journal on Philanthropy and Civil Society, 2(1), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.70902/hy4g6y13