As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit, the timing could not be more significant. By 2050, Africa will be home to nearly 40% of the world’s young people, a generation that will define global growth, innovation and social progress. For Michael Mapstone, CEO of the Anglo American Foundation (AAF), this moment demands both opportunity and responsibility. It’s a reminder that philanthropy must evolve to match the scale and speed of change ahead.
“Having started my professional life as an English teacher across Asia and Latin America, I saw firsthand how young people adapt and lead when given the chance,” says Mapstone. “Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not” Raised in a working-class family in London, Mapstone was the first in his family to attend university. “My parents worked incredibly hard so that I could have choices they didn’t,” he reflects. “That shaped my view of fairness and the importance of creating conditions for others to succeed.”
Since then, Mapstone has spent decades elbows deep in civil society work. Before taking the helm at the Anglo American Foundation in 2022, Mapstone held several key positions, including Director of External Affairs and Global Engagement at Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). In this capacity, he oversaw the CAF Global Alliance, a prominent international network of independent organisations dedicated to advancing giving and bolstering philanthropic efforts worldwide.
Additionally, he served as Special Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where he led partnership and stakeholder management strategies for governments, inter-governmental institutions, the private sector and NGOs.
His work has taken him across the globe and given him unique insight into what it takes to drive impactful change across a variety of cultures and languages. AAF combines deep local understanding with global reach. “Our South African roots give us credibility and understanding of local communities, while our global network allows us to connect innovation with broader development ecosystems, “Mapstone explains.
Under his leadership, AAF focuses on strengthening local ecosystems that empower youth and changemakers. Its programmes equip young people with the tools and resources to drive change and unlock their full potential.
“The architecture of philanthropy is changing,” Mapstone notes. “It’s no longer about top-down interventions. It’s about partnership, relevance and trusting the people closest to the challenge to lead the solution.”
As the G20 spotlight turns to South Africa, Mapstone sees an opportunity to showcase how philanthropy can unlock African potential. ‘We need to demonstrate how local collaboration can drive inclusive growth, create jobs and address systemic challenges”, he says. “The future of philanthropy is about enabling communities to thrive, not imposing external solutions.”
For Mapstone, this moment reflects a wider recalibration in global philanthropy, where countries like South Africa are defining new norms of collaboration and impact, a commitment to youth as agents of change. “Young people are shaping the future now. Our job is to build systems strong enough to support them,” he says. “Investing in African talent and trusting local leadership is an essential part enabling the philanthropic ecosystems of the future. Ultimately, whatever we do has to be able to outlive us and you achieve that through youth agency”
As the world turns its attention to South Africa, Mapstone’s message is clear: the future of philanthropy will be built by those who enable ecosystems, empower local actors and trust communities to lead.