Michelle Eichinger’s Post

Explore how place-based partnerships are becoming a driving force in the fight for equity. Our latest article on Inside Philanthropy delves into the significance of these localized collaborations and their impact on community development and social justice. Jennifer Splansky Juster, Monique Miles and Cindy Santos, Guest Contributors report: The role of place-based partnerships in advancing equity Successful examples and case studies Strategies for building effective local collaborations Join the discussion on how localized efforts can drive meaningful change in communities. Tagging Fearless Fund Collective Impact Forum The Aspen Institute Los Angeles Opportunity Youth Collaborative #PlaceBasedPartnerships #Equity #CommunityDevelopment #SocialJustice #InsidePhilanthropy #CommunityDriven #LocalCollaboration #SystemicChange #EquitableDevelopment #CommunityEmpowerment #Resilience #SustainableProgress #Philanthropy

FYI, Justice Funders is now accepting applications for the Harmony Initiative 2025/2026 cohort. For more information, register for one of their upcoming information sessions.   The Harmony Initiative is a 9-month #leadershipdevelopmentprogram that equips #grantmakers with the community, skills, and resources to transform #philanthropy into a force for #equity and #socialjustice. Inherent to this is building the capacity of grantmakers as #funder #organizers to advance a Just Transition for the field. Through a combination of retreats, workshops, and peer groups, participants solidify a vision for their #leadership, strengthen their practice, and build deep relationships with peers. Since 2015, 190+ grantmakers from 100+ institutions have participated in Harmony: - Individuals working in institutional philanthropy (community, corporate, family and private foundations, etc); grantmaking intermediaries; and philanthropic-serving organizations - Majority Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (QTBIPOC) leaders - Program or grantmaking roles --80% Program Officer to Executive Director --20% Program Associate to Senior Program Associate Objective: - Clarity of vision for your work - Strategy and skills to strengthen your grantmaking and funder organizing practice - Strong relationships with a diverse cohort of peers - Support and tools to design a change initiative within your institution/philanthropy Application Process: - Apply by 4/30/25 to hear back by 6/9/25 - Apply by 1/10/25 to hear back by 3/7/25 ** Early submissions encouraged since space is limited to maximize relationship-building and learning! #JusticeFunders #HarmonyInitiative https://lnkd.in/g-NV-zdB

Besides some of the practical tips in the article, I was really struck by these paragraphs: "Communicating this distinction, between extractive or performative listening and #meaningfullistening that leads to #realchange, has been a communications challenge since the Fund for Shared Insight began its work more than a decade ago. Adding to the difficulty is that listening is a common term, used in everyday conversation. Most funders and nonprofits believe they know what listening means, and think they already do a lot of it. The real issue lies in how they are listening, who they are listening to, and what they do with what they hear. When our organizations talk about the importance of listening, we’re referring to a practice and a way of being that goes beyond asking thoughtful questions at site visits, convening community members to provide input on a new strategic direction, or surveying grantees to find out whether the online application system is easy to use. We’re talking about #inclusive, #systematic listening that engages nonprofits and community members as #partners and #cocreators and builds #trust and #accountability by reporting back to the community on what was heard and plans to respond."

“Those who have been systematically excluded from philanthropy are pushing funders to rethink their approach to disrupting inequality. To help shift deeply rooted power dynamics, foundations must ensure that historically marginalized communities set the agenda. They also need to make clear to established groups that they share or cede power to more diverse voices, just as funders must diversify their own ranks. It is worth stating the obvious: this work demands that foundations move beyond the typical “add and stir” approach to women or people of color or rural or disabled or LGBTQ+ people, which imagines that simple (and often symbolic) inclusion is all it takes to solve a deep-seated problem. Being attentive to power can be complicated, but some parts are straightforward. Funders can think about how they structure convenings and be intentional about who is invited and who is speaking. Foundation staff can compare their grants: Who gets more money? Who gets less? Who gets none? And foundations can build these considerations into their strategic work. Finally, foundations must hire people with less elite backgrounds and more diverse experiences to become program officers.”

The whole space of trust based philanthropy is always evolving. I think a lot more funders are looking at the longevity of their funding and changing some of the metrics, applying deeper understanding that if you're tackling systems of injustice that have been developed and reinforced over hundreds of years, a three-year or five-year intervention will only make limited progress. To be able to change cultural, social, religious norms will take time and patience. Grassroots groups and movements need to be sustained over periods of time in order for that change to actually happen. https://lnkd.in/ghx39J5e

#Ariadne2024Forecast: “In 2024, #philanthropy aims to address political opportunities and social change. Collaborating as a community can enhance strengths and seize opportunities for impact.” 🔗 Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/d7JRT5c6 

Stoked for tomorrow's webinar showcasing the creative, transformative work of Kheprw Institute here in Indianapolis. I've learned so much from this space about relationship-centered, people-centered, intergenerational community building. Come join me and my friends as we explore Kheprw's story and "special sauce"!

“Philanthropy must be bolder..... more engaged, more courageous, investing in fields it hasn’t invested in before.” A key takeaway for grant makers from the most recent report by Ariadne Network. Now in its tenth year, Ariadne’s 2024 Forecast for European Social Change and Human Rights Funders provides insights into what challenges and opportunities could be facing grantees including:  🔔 Lack of funding for grassroots organisations to build more people power and solidarity.  🔔 A focus on the younger generations and the need to mobilise them to vote and engage with philanthropic giving.  🔔 A need for increased global connection and the need to collaborate to meet global issues.  An important read for funders looking to provide evidence-based grants in the area of social change and human rights and to explore (and commiserate with!) challenges faced by European and UK funders to this area. The report in full can be found here- https://lnkd.in/d7JRT5c6   #2024AriadneForecast | #SocialChange | #HumanRights | #Philanthropy 

What can progressive funders do differently to build political power and stand against right-wing authoritarianism? Learn from Mόnica Cόrdova of Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing and Lisa Owens of The Hyams Foundation about what funders can do differently to advance movement building and expand democracy. #philanthropy #democracy #grassroots