The next few years could see a shift in emphasis in the non-profit world – at least, if the work of organisations supporting entrepreneurs is an indication of the direction the sector is taking. “Philanthropy is one of those wonderfully antique words that we will stop using in 10 to 15 years,” says Bill Drayton, who founded Ashoka and pioneered the idea of identifying and investing in entrepreneurs. “The business/social boundaries are simply collapsing.”

As models such as venture philanthropy, microfinance and social entrepreneurship are embraced by non-profit organisations, and corporations start to focus on social issues, the barriers between the business and non-profit sectors continue to erode.