Council on Foundations’ Post

The AAPI Civic Engagement Fund is one of the largest collaborative funds mobilizing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in civic engagement and movement building for systems change. Launched in 2013, the Fund supports grantmaking, capacity-building, and research. 💡 Only 20 cents out of every $100 philanthropic dollars (0.2%) is designated for AAPI communities, despite Asian Americans being the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the U.S., increasing by 81% between 2000-2019. Asian Americans make up 6.1% of all eligible voters. Several EGA member foundations, including the MacArthur Foundation, Surdna Foundation, THE JPB FOUNDATION, and Unbound Philanthropy, support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund in strengthening a multiracial democracy by driving AAPI civic engagement and resourcing AAPI-led nonprofits. 🗳️Learn more about the Fund: https://lnkd.in/eb7kzfMt #AANHPIHeritageMonth

So incredibly proud of all the work Amy McIsaac, Siri Erickson, and the entire team at Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) has put into research on civic language. This piece by Drew Lindsay is an exclamation point on this truly groundbreaking initiative that we hear every day is helping our colleagues in philanthropy and non-profit work. If you have yet to engage with this research on how American voters view terms like "democracy," this piece will get you oriented: https://lnkd.in/e5AnWVfd

NEW on the CEP blog: When should we 'bridge' and when should we fight? That's one of the question Phil Buchanan grapples with in the latest in his series tackling big questions for philanthropy.   Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eXawSxRt   #blog #newblog #reading #philanthropy #nonprofits #democracy #bridging #citizens #civicengagement

15 years ago, here in Richmond, a small group of women came together to create a community focused on philanthropy. Today, collective giving is a rapidly-growing movement nationwide. As this article notes, Between the lines: Members of the groups reported significant improvement to their physical, mental, and spiritual health as a result of joining. In an increasingly atomizing world, these groups create real community. Members also became more likely to become actively engaged in local civic institutions. "Collective giving is inherently a social, long-term, and community-based experience," write the authors. https://lnkd.in/eVtn5mWj

For over a year, it's been my joy and privilege to work with a fantastic team at the Council on Foundations to better understand how philanthropy is supporting work to connect and collaborate across difference in the US, both through what it funds and how it operates. I am thrilled that the first of three reports, co-sponsored by the New Pluralists and Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE), is out! This one focuses on WHAT work is being supported, qualitatively and quantitatively. Bottom line: 1) Despite increased polarization, most Americans support working with those holding different beliefs and believe philanthropy can help with this; and 2) Foundations are committing more and more of their resources to this work. For instance, in our sample (not representative, but a varied and significant n=133):  ✅ 85% of foundations have funded connecting across differences within the past 10 years.  ✅ Nearly a quarter allocated over half of their grantmaking budget to this work.   ✅ Over 90% of those funding this work increased or maintained their investments between 2021 and 2022. Other nuggets: 🔥 How this work is being carried out across the country... 🔥 Perspectives from a diverse array of philanthropic leaders regarding the need for and/or value of connecting across differences... 🔥 How different interpretations of concepts (e.g., bridging, pluralism, belonging, social cohesion) lead to different estimations about the efficacy of this work, and whether it can be symbiotic with equity/social justice efforts I encourage anyone interested in work to advance pluralism/belonging/bridging/democracy to download and read the full report, and please spread the word! https://lnkd.in/e34fZyWD

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.

#DAFs are democratizing giving, making them a perfect tool for advisors to use when helping clients merge their financial and #philanthropic endeavors. This extensive study shows the role of the #DAF in fostering community support and enhancing impact: https://bit.ly/3OKOBTY

Shifting power via foundation grants requires that those in the community gaining power have the requisite organizations, skills, and capacity to manage power to good effect. Lived experience is only part of it? And lettting go of power while shepherding the whole, also requires new skills, staying power, and accountability to…? Long highly abstract read, but worth interrogating. Wish it contained the unredacted voices of those in the health foundation and in the community who feel unfairly used, or who can state lessons learned in more visceral terms. Something about a foundation-stifled protest over a contaminated aquifer at an economically essential military base? Finding or centering the right voices to write up the “findings”…..

Fascinating look at the complexity of trust-based philanthropy, the many facets of trust-based philanthropy, and the necessary shifts in staffing, expertise, supports, and perhaps most critically, mission, that are needed to achieve success.

With racial equity under fire, will grantmakers sustain their commitments? As we celebrate Juneteenth, it's crucial to reflect on the promises made and the actions taken towards racial justice. Our latest article on Inside Philanthropy examines the current landscape and the steadfastness of grantmakers in supporting racial equity. 🔍 Martha Ramirez Reports: Analysis of current commitments to racial equity Challenges and successes in sustaining these commitments Insights from key leaders in the field Join the conversation! How can grantmakers ensure long-term support for racial equity? Tagging Center for Effective Philanthropy Schott Foundation for Public Education Democracy Frontlines Fund Heising-Simons Foundation California Black Freedom Fund #Juneteenth #CommitmentToChange #RacialEquity #Grantmakers #SustainedCommitment #SystemicInequality #MarginalizedCommunities #Philanthropy #SocialJustice #EquityInitiatives #CommunityEngagement #TransparentReporting