Interview: HRH Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud, Secretary-General, Alwaleed Philanthropies, on the role of long-term incentives, partnerships and impact-focused funding
Which levers are most effective in enabling philanthropy to help the non-profit sector reach Vision 2030’s target of contributing 5% to GDP?
HRH PRINCESS LAMIA BINT MAJED AL SAUD: Reaching the Vision 2030 target requires progress across multiple levers rather than reliance on a single approach. Saudi Arabia has already taken important steps by modernising governance structures and expanding the regulatory framework for non-profit organisations. The next phase should focus on incentives that encourage long-term participation, such as clearer corporate-giving policies, frameworks and outcome-based financing mechanisms that reward measurable impact rather than activity alone.
Collaboration is equally critical. When philanthropic actors work alongside multilateral organisations, government entities and the private sector, the result is greater scale and durability. International experience shows that the partnerships that are built around shared objectives are more effective than isolated initiatives, particularly in areas such as housing, education and cultural preservation, where expertise and resources must be pooled to achieve meaningful outcomes. Funding models also need to evolve. Traditional grant making remains important, but blended finance, endowment structures and de-risking mechanisms allow philanthropic capital to attract more private investment.
In what areas can philanthropic efforts complement government delivery?
PRINCESS LAMIA: Philanthropy is most effective where innovation, early-stage piloting and community engagement are required. Government plays a central role in scale and delivery, but philanthropic actors can test models, refine approaches and respond more flexibly to local needs. In youth empowerment, this often translates into investing in skills development, entrepreneurship and pathways into emerging sectors before these various programmes are adopted more widely.
Cultural vitality, including heritage, crafts and creative industries offers a clear example, sitting at the intersection of identity and economic opportunity. Philanthropy can support training, market access and preservation in ways that protect cultural value while generating income. These initiatives demonstrate how culture can function as an economic asset rather than a purely symbolic one. Importantly, these interventions are not substitutes for public services. They operate as proof-of-concept models that can later be integrated into national strategies.
What mechanisms are needed to ensure that digital-giving platforms become long-term impact engines rather than short-cycle charity tools?
PRINCESS LAMIA: This requires strong governance, transparent reporting and clear links between participation and measurable outcomes. Platforms that simply facilitate donations risk short-lived engagement. However, those that connect users to learning, volunteering and professional pathways can sustain long-term involvement. Digital learning nodes provide a strong model. When platforms offer training and practical tools, they create value for participants and society. Technology can also support impact tracking through dashboards, progress indicators and feedback loops, allowing contributors to see how their involvement translates into results.
Another important element is accessibility. Platforms that offer multilingual access, free information and community-oriented features are far more likely to build lasting and resilient networks. When digital engagement is linked to structured programmes in areas such as legal literacy, environmental protection or heritage preservation, it becomes a critical mechanism for meaningful economic participation rather than just episodic charity.
Read More from OBG
