NEO Philanthropy’s Post

What happens when a foundation commits to spending down its assets in a way that democratizes decision-making? A philanthropy abolitionist reflects on the bold choices and lessons learned in our latest article on Inside Philanthropy. Discover how this approach has challenged traditional philanthropy and what it means for the future of giving. #MikeScutari reports: Insights into the process and impact of a democratized spend-down Reflections on how this approach challenges traditional philanthropic models The legacy and future implications for foundations considering similar paths Tagging Chorus Foundation Quark Highlander Research and Education Center #SpendDown #SocialImpact #DemocratizedGiving #FoundationLeadership #AbolitionistPhilanthropy #FutureOfGiving #DemocratizedGrantmaking #CommunityLedPhilanthropy #EquityInPhilanthropy #PowerShift #Grantmaking #CommunityEmpowerment #InsidePhilanthropy #Philanthropy

Trust is the connective tissue of human relationships. In its absence, there’s no community, no economy, no collaboration, no collective flourishing. So why are “control and compliance” donor practices the default- despite evidence that they often undermine impact? In this essay, we looked to other fields to shed new light on trust-based #philanthropy and how a more nuanced understanding of these dynamics can help build the range of relationships that drive the most #SocialChange.   📄 Read the essay and responses: https://lnkd.in/eRTbF_2F 🗨 We invited a range of other voices to critique and expand on the topic in a series of response essays. Thank you for your contributions: Shaady Salehi (Trust-Based Philanthropy Project), Jara Dean-Coffey (she/her/hers) (Equitable Evaluation Initiative and jdcPARTNERSHIPS), Kathy Reich (Ford Foundation’s BUILD Initiative), and Aaron Horvath and Micah McElroy (Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS).

Reading a recent advice column in The Chronicle of Philanthropy (https://lnkd.in/eQb-2uRz) about how our words are perceived, especially at times of heightened awareness such as the upcoming election, I'm reminded of a blog post I wrote two years ago about the importance of choosing our words wisely in the profession of nonprofit development. See if some of these shift in semantics are helpful to you now:https://lnkd.in/eVbuURuj.

"For us, giving is more than just a financial transaction, it’s an investment of love and resources." That is why our #LatinoGivingCircleNetwork harnesses our collective power to address funding gaps to create lasting change for Latino-led nonprofits. Read about how giving circles facilitate meaningful conversations, education, and decision-making while tackling socio-economic disparities in Anais Amaya, LGCN Director's article co-written by Sara Lomelin of Philanthropy Together in Alliance magazine. https://lnkd.in/gP4Wy3yn

"Trust-based philanthropy" has been a term that has come to mean a lot of different things over the years. My colleagues Kathleen Fleming, Jeff Bradach, Preeta Nayak, and Zachary Slobig unpack this notion of trust, which is often interpreted as an all-or-nothing binary... and therefore can make it feel inaccessible or “non-strategic” for many donors. Our fear is that this chills, rather than encourages, broader philanthropic experimentation with #powershifting (a topic I care deeply about!). This essay and series of responses is more of a provocation (than answers) to help think through: 🕹️ What explains philanthropic behaviors that remain #stuck in a paradigm of #control? 🧠 What #beliefs and #assumptions can donors examine to build greater trust with grantees? The hope is that this encourages more #curiosity, #vulnerability, and openness to greater #experimentation. Feel free to comment and engage!

“If we stop being vigilant about making racial justice and trust the foundation of our work, we risk replicating the very dynamics that define our unequal society.” https://lnkd.in/eER56Av8 Nat Williams and Elizabeth Bonner of the HILL-SNOWDON FOUNDATION share a road map for funders who are committed to advancing racial justice but feel stuck using conventional practices that cause more harm than good: “Trust-based philanthropy gave us the language to understand that while we were clear on our values, our commitment to relationships was not being reflected in our grantmaking practices.” Read more about Hill-Snowdon’s approach to serving community partners: https://lnkd.in/eER56Av8 Learn more about trust-based philanthropy in a series of articles sponsored by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project: https://lnkd.in/eaQTUnNx #trustbasedphilanthropy #philanthropy #racialjustice 

The Johnson Center's 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2024 is now available - and this year's version poses a set of questions rather than answers - with each trend posing a number of moral, economic, equity-related, tactical, and other questions that the sector will have to answer ... #philanthropy hashtag#foundations hashtag#grantmaking hashtag#endowments hashtag#privatefoundations hashtag#donoradvisedfund hashtag#socialprofit hashtag#notforprofit

Strengthening Our Democracy - Resources for Philanthropic Impact 💡 Philanthropy exists to advance the well-being of people. In the U.S., few things ensure this more than a well-functioning democracy built by and for the people. From our children’s education to fair wages and access to medical care, whose voices are heard determines how lives are uplifted or challenged. Philanthropy can help ensure that millions in our communities have a way to make their voices heard and have influence in elections and other civic spaces. Grants, investments, and advocacy by donors and foundations have the power to greatly impact equity in democratic institutions. Read our latest article to learn more about how you can get engaged and use your philanthropic impact to strengthen our democracy. https://lnkd.in/gAAmB_MT #philanthropy #civicengagement #democracy #advocacy Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees Alliance for Justice Nonprofit VOTE Funders' Committee For Civic Participation The Bridgespan Group PolicyLink CFLeads Proteus Fund Tides Media Impact Funders ABFE. A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities

❤️ What would it look like to lead with love in philanthropy? Check out this new blog post from my Tides colleague Diana Hunter, who offers 6 reflection questions to help us explore this topic.

Diana Hunter with Tides foundation is a special thinker - leading with love is not something I hear often. Her six questions to unpack blocks to trust-based philanthropy are spot on but one in particular is phrased so eloquently..."How are we allowing fear to drive our decisions?" Not "if" we are allowing, but "how." For me, it suggests how crucial it is to recognize that fear often masquerades as prudence, caution, or responsibility. Yet, when we let it dictate our actions, we end up creating barriers to the very trust we seek to build. I love that Diana is challenging us to consciously identify and address these fears, transforming them into opportunities for greater openness and genuine connection. It's a reminder that true philanthropy isn't just about resources, but about the courage to lead with vulnerability and integrity.