Definity Foundation’s Post

From this new Council on Foundations "Coming Together, Not Apart" report: "Division in the United States is certainly not a recent development, but for the past 15 years or so, the U.S. has seemed seized by a novel strain of discord. Particularly since the 2016 election, headlines about toxic polarization— defined here as an “us vs. them” partisan mindset and contempt for political outgroups—have been published ad nauseum. The dynamics of this polarization have been linked to the backsliding of American democracy, as well as a steep rise in political violence. While the connection between toxic polarization and these phenomena may be indirect, there appears to be something unique to the political, media, and societal systems of the United States that is causing toxic polarization to play out in these ways. "From 2016 to 2020, philanthropy invested $9.4 billion to promote democracy, more than twice the total from the previous five years, and philanthropic initiatives aimed at fostering belonging and social cohesion proliferated. "In an October 2023 survey commissioned by the Walton Family Foundation, more than 8 in 10 said they worry about how divided our society is becoming. But they are not resigned to division: Almost 9 in 10 (88%) also said people need to be willing to work together with those holding different beliefs, 2 out of 3 said we can overcome big challenges together if we try, and 8 in 10 said it’s important to listen to people with different opinions." #division #socialcohesion #communitybuilding #pluralism #interfaith #hatecrime #polarization #conflicttransformation #democracy #belonging #inclusion

In our new report, the Council – in partnership with Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) and New Pluralists – surveyed 133 foundations and conducted 43 in-depth interviews with philanthropic leaders to examine how organizations are counteracting polarization in their communities. Download the full report: https://hubs.ly/Q02Rvl3f0

This discussion of evidence in decision making was eye-opening for me! You can now view it at the link below. We discussed: What is evidence? How do we challenge the traditional preference for statistical data to also include other forms of information? What do we do in the absence of good information, or, alternatively, when and how do we get beyond "admiring the problem" to stop data collection and act? What are strategies for dealing with "fact resistance" and data denial?

Are you a funder interested in #MovementBuilding? Over the past few years, we’ve been part of a Policy Ecosystem involving 12+ nonprofits who collaborated to advance #HigherEdEquity. College Futures Foundation and Cities & People Advisors describe takeaways for #philanthropy in this report: https://buff.ly/3WzEjuK

#EmpoweringEducation: The Role of Philanthropy in Global Development Education is a powerful catalyst for change, essential for sustainable development. Philanthropic organizations are making significant strides, contributing billions to educational initiatives globally. From scholarships to infrastructure improvements, their impact is profound. Explore how organizations like Educate! Africa, Fundación EDUCA México, A.C., and MWELU FOUNDATION are transforming communities through education. Learn how you can support these efforts and drive educational empowerment. Read the full article to discover the inspiring work being done and how you can be part of this global movement. Here - https://shorturl.at/ZINP2 #Philanthropy #Education #SustainableDevelopment #SocialImpact

Did you know 🤔 Our recent 2023 Benchmarking report revealed that nearly 1 in 4 survey respondents reported that their foundation works in partnership with grantees and communities to decide what programmatic success looks like. Our report findings point to an increase in efforts to center equity in the philanthropic sector as well as identify significant opportunities to implement solutions that can further push philanthropy to become a more equitable sector. Read more in the full report: https://lnkd.in/dJgEsYXJ

Diversity isn't just a goal—it's a strategic advantage. Discover how we can close the representation gap in fundraising and enrich our sector with diverse perspectives, especially by recruiting more Men of Color. Read more in this week's blog from Bridge Philanthropic Consulting! Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, LLC. Read here: https://ow.ly/VNuX50Teuqs #GIBlog

A new report finds that, "Foundations have an identity problem. Americans have little understanding of what foundations do and how they affect our daily lives. This is not just a matter of brand identity for individual foundations; the lack of a clear narrative about what the philanthropic sector does, in a larger ecosystem of change, leaves people with questions." "Philanthropy’s New Voice is the largest study of narratives in philanthropy. It is a robust, multimethod research effort to surface the American public’s and federal policymakers’ perspectives on philanthropy, current communications practices at foundations, and specific types of stories that can increase the public’s understanding of and trust in foundations." Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eKMcryWN #philanthropy #foundations #grantmaking #funders #communication #storytelling #impact #trust #collaboration

💡 Philanthropic redlining perpetuates the discriminatory practice of unfairly distributing philanthropic funds while disregarding justice-centered Black-led institutions. Fueled by prejudiced beliefs that Black-led organizations are ineffective, inferior, and fraudulent, this practice has historically marginalized Black communities, depriving them of equitable access to philanthropic support and a voice in resource allocation. Rooted in the erroneous notion that solutions for Black communities must come from white-led nonprofits, philanthropic redlining fosters the misconception that all Black-led nonprofits lack the capacity to fulfill their missions. 👉 We reject the notion of 'capacity building,' recognizing it as a product of philanthropic redlining and a narrative that unfairly portrays Black-led nonprofits as inherently deficient. ✨ Our approach is grounded in envisioning success through partnerships with Black-led nonprofits. We engage these organizations by seeking their insights on what success looks and feels like to them and what resources they require to achieve it. Additionally, we inquire about how best to support them in navigating philanthropic culture. #philanthropy #philanthropicredlining #racialequity #blackledleadership

I have so many thoughts swirling in my head these days. I'm sure my colleagues in social good can relate. Today, we published this reflection in our Impact Insider newsletter about the important role nonprofits play as bridge-builders during times of distrust and disunity. It is a concept backed-up by data, which is the new focus for our monthly newsletter - the intersection of quantitative and qualitative data that drives social good trendlines. We welcome your review and to help us amplify it as a message. Now is not the time to sit back, tune out, or shy away from the important work nonprofits and other cause-driven institutions perform. It is a time to lean in, especially during the season of giving that serves as philanthropic fuel for the important work. If you agree with the sentiment, please consider sharing it in your network. Let's build a movement of bridge-building to repair the divides that only serve to injure those who are most deserving of our kindness and support this holiday season. #socialgood #bridgebuilders Don't receive the Impact Insider? Let's fix that right now: https://lnkd.in/gK6eHd2m