iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility’s Post

Can philanthropy competitions be equitable? 🤔 YES 🙌 We believe we provide a rare opportunity for organizations, particularly those with proximate or BIPOC—Black, Indigenous, and people of color—leadership, to compete based on their potential for impact rather than access to a funder’s network. Learn more about our approach in this Inside Philanthropy penned by our CEO: https://lnkd.in/gF5q6At

At Philanthropy Northwest, the values of place and joy are at the heart of our mission. My family’s history in the Northwest—from my Japanese grandfather’s immigration to first Alaska and then Seattle over a century ago to my great-grandmother’s work in the strawberry fields of Vashon Island—shapes my perspective on these values. In my recent blog, I delve into how we at Philanthropy Northwest embody these principles and share personal experiences that highlight their significance. I invite you to take a moment to read it and explore the importance of place and joy in our work!

Congratulations to Vetto Casado, the Shifting Power, Advancing Justice team, and all at The Boston Foundation for this tremendous work. And thanks to Vetto to posing great questions in his reflection. They are for all of us in #philanthropy to consider - here are some modifications for me, relevant to my work in the Massachusetts Early Childhood Funder Collaborative: * How can we collectively position ourselves and leverage our resources to ensure our work hits its substantial potential? * How do we come together as a collective? What is the cadence? And how do we ask the right questions going forward? * How can we support the table setting? How can we bring chairs - and tables - that we don't occupy, but to allow others immersed in the work to construct a vision and definition of success that we can then support?

🔑 Traditional philanthropy often separates funders and community members, creating power imbalances where funders set the rules and practitioners work to meet them. Participatory Grantmaking (PGM) offers a fresh approach by bringing funders and those impacted by funding decisions together. 🌱 Taking this approach a step further, what might happen if the funder were in the room? What would it look like for the funder and fundee to make a new table where they sit together to decide where to allocate funds? 🤝🏾 The Black Systemic Safety Fund project explored these questions and documented the learnings in a series of reports and digestible infographics. 📚 Learn more here: https://hubs.li/Q02Ywn_y0 #systemschange #shiftthepower The Ubele Initiative, Impact on Urban Health

Explore the transformative journey of U.S. Philanthropy through our timeline. Discover stories of individuals and organizations driving change through their time, voice, connections, and resources. Join young changemakers in sparking conversations about building a racially equitable society by examining the history of philanthropy: History of US Philanthropy Timeline | Learning to Give https://lnkd.in/gFtnvQif

"When we talk about public safety, we also have to talk about how we are creating a place in this city where people feel they belong." Last month, Tonia Wellons joined top experts in violence reduction for a special event, "Stopping the Cycle of Violence - Business & Philanthropy Lifting Up Proven Solutions". The event which was sponsored by The Community Foundation, Howard University, Peace For DC, and others, explored the powerful role that business and philanthropy play in the public safety space. https://lnkd.in/ehbF-k_9

If you want to have high trust as an organization, people need to know what you stand for. This report is critical for every foundation to consider.

“You know that the work you’re doing makes a difference anecdotally, but to see it on paper – we were in the kitchen crying to see that verified.” Read our latest blog post to learn what our state agency and nonprofit partners have to say about how LINC data is changing the lives of Coloradans, strengthening organizations, and boosting efforts to advance equity. https://bit.ly/47HhVDi

As we approach the end of the year and step into the season of giving, it’s the perfect time to pause, recommit, and carry forward the lessons that fuel our mission of systems change. This past week, I had the privilege of attending New Profit The Well conference in Baltimore, hosted by our anchor philanthropic partner, New Profit. It was a powerful gathering of thought leaders and changemakers exploring what it means to build community, purpose, and transformation. Tulaine M. Shawn Dove Shruti Sehra Eliza Greenberg Delanoe Matthew Johnson Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing reflections from the conference—key ideas that have stayed with me and continue to shape the work we’re doing at Kingmakers of Oakland. One that resonates deeply is this: Community is medicine. It’s through connections rooted in love, purpose, and care that we heal, energize, and sustain ourselves and our work. But this kind of community doesn’t just happen—it takes commitment and intention. While the challenges are real, it’s our shared strength and belief in each other that provide the foundation to keep going. As we close out the year, I invite each of us to reflect: How can we better nurture our relationships to create deeper, more lasting impact? Let’s lean in and move forward—together. (Photo credit: Nikhil Gehani, Managing Partner, Communications at New Profit)

Navigating Conversations on Racial Justice: a workshop Community Centric Fundraising Principle #6 with @Michelle Muri of @theethicalrainmaker and I for a 2 part workshop May 23rd and June 6th 10-12pm pst. What would be possible for our relationships and communities if we courageously address the topics we've been avoiding? Successful movements require challenging conversations - what would be possible if we could get through those moments in a generative and loving way? What does it look like to have some of the conversations we’ve been avoiding or are afraid to have? Join us for the launch of a two-part series on difficult conversations, centered around #6 of the Community Centric Fundraising principles. These transformative workshops will take place on May 23rd and June 6th, from 10-12pm PST. Reserve your spot by registering in the link attached. Many of us shy away from challenging conversations, fearing potential strain on relationships with donors, colleagues, or friends. As a result, embracing this principle often proves to be one of the most daunting yet impactful steps in our journey. To enact meaningful change, we must confront the characteristics of white supremacy culture that perpetuate fear of conflict, perfectionism, and the pressure to always be "nice." By shattering our fragility, we unlock the path to liberation and authentic connection. Are you: …hesitant to speak up, unsure of your language or analysis? …afraid to lose funding by addressing systemic oppression with funders? …nervous to say ‘white privilege, racism and bias’ in conversation? …implementing community-centered (CCF) principles internally and not sure how to share that with the board, donors and others? …committed to doing the hard emotional labor of figuring this out in service to being a more reliable white ally? Join us for an opportunity to embark on this deeply personal and professionally transformative journey. This workshop is open to all nonprofit staff, not just those directly in fundraising. Together, let's commit to the hard but necessary emotional labor of allyship.