Can Dirty Money Do Good? | Colonial Wealth & Philanthropy

Philanthropy literally means “the love of humanity.” So why does Aiwan hear something else? The “love of control”?

Last week on Rigour & Flow , we explored the deeply personal side of charity. Aiwan grew up receiving it.

Tamanda was socialised to give it. And what surfaced between us in the studio were visceral class differences.

This week, we follow the money. After spending the past year immersed in understanding the UK philanthropic sector through our work with The Phoenix Way , we unpack a system whose roots stretch back well over a thousand years.

The conversation spans from the rise of medieval monasteries and their dissolution under Henry VIII, to the Victorian Poor Laws and the emergence of the modern "Philanthropic Industrial Complex." Throughout this history, one question keeps resurfacing: Who is deemed “deserving” of help, and who gets to decide? Because those judgments haven’t disappeared.

They’ve simply changed hands with the passage of time. From the transformative power of endowments - perpetual wealth vs. short-term grants - to the uncomfortable origins of institutional fortunes tied to colonialism, slavery and empire, we confront the fundamental issue: If the source of your wealth is exploitation, can “charity” ever truly be considered repair?

This episode moves beyond “giving” toward solidarity - or even reparations. Because true liberation isn't asking for a seat at someone else’s table; it’s building and owning the table ourselves. 🎙️In this episode: Revisiting the Messy Middle: Unpacking the class differences and discomfort that surfaced in Episode 57.

Inside the Philanthropic Industrial Complex: What a year documenting the story of The Phoenix Way revealed about how philanthropic funding actually works. Endowments and Agency: Why perpetual wealth and ownership matter far more than applying for another grant.

Deserving vs. Undeserving: How Tudor Poor Laws and Victorian workhouses still dictate modern welfare and funding rhetoric.

Empire’s Financial Afterlife: When institutional wealth is rooted in historical exploitation and colonial extraction. The "Risk" Paradox: Why Black and Brown organisations are framed simultaneously as most in need and most financially risky.

A Seat at the Table vs. Owning the Table: Why representation and participatory grant-making don’t fundamentally transfer actual wealth or power.

Charity vs. Solidarity: Moving from paternalistic aid to mutual liberation: "Your liberation is bound up with mine." 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: ☕ Want to support the show? https://buymeacoffee.com/rigourandflow 🔁 Share with someone working in the sector or exploring wealth justice and agency.

CORRECTION: During this episode, Tamanda incorrectly state that charities regulated by the Charity Commission are required to be “apolitical”. Charities can campaign and engage in political activity where this advances their charitable purposes, but must remain independent of party politics.

We’ve kept the discussion in the episode, but explain why this distinction matters - and how it affects the wider argument about the policing of political activity - in our full correction and accompanying resources on Substack: https://rigourandflow.substack.com/ Please rate, review and subscribe for weekly episodes. Connect with us on: TikTok Instagram LinkedIn AiAi Studios Roots & Rigour This is an AiAi Studios Production ©AiAi Studios 2025 Hosted on Acast.

See for more information.