Nichole Argo’s Post

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).

"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!

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

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.

Exciting to see NEO's State Infrastructure Fund featured in this insightful article by Inside Philanthropy. Democracy funding is crucial in today's world - let's discuss how we can all contribute to this important cause! #philanthropy #democracyfunding #socialimpact #equalityforall https://lnkd.in/gvb4f-5B.

“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 

“Democracy is the system that creates pathways for people to act collectively, to hold leaders and institutions accountable and to fight for the change they want to see in the world. We need to think beyond tactics that yield only short-term wins, to our role in supporting communities so that they can set their own priorities, innovate on strategy and deliver on a long-term vision for change on the issues that affect their daily lives.” Rx Foundation’s Executive Director, Jennie Riley, recently co-authored an op-ed about philanthropy’s need to support community-based, multiracial democratic practice, with Kelly Nowlin, who served on the board of the Surdna Foundation, and advises family foundations as the principal of KDN Philanthropy Consulting. Riley and Nowlin are among the funders collaborating with the Democracy & Power Innovation Fund, a learning and funding collective that includes state organizing partners. In this piece they share four lessons learned and tangible actions funders can take to support community-based, multiracial democratic practices across the country: 1. Support locally led groups in building their ability to organize and wield power. 2. Support experimentation and learning to improve strategy and practice. Funders need to expand our understanding and use of metrics, moving away from what is easiest to count and toward co-defining what is meaningful for impact. 3. Support unrestricted, multi-year funding that spans off-election years. Democratic systems and practices must be nurtured every year, whether a major election is coming up or not. 4. Be curious about the diversity of needs, values and worldviews within Black, Latino, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native communities. There are many rich examples shared from power-building organizations like the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, LUCHA, and Voces De La Frontera. Read their piece to learn more about the transformative power organizations are building and how philanthropy can support it. As Riley and Nowlin remind us, “Many of us have spent our philanthropic careers devoted to making tangible change on issues — health care, climate, economic security and more — but have seen limited progress or even years of work rolled back as democracy slips. A collective commitment to supporting a community-based, multiracial democratic practice is needed to sustain it.” #Democracy #CivicEngagement #Grassroots #CBO #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #PowerBuilding #CommunityOrganizing in TheFulcrum.US

🚨 Read Today! Insights from “Responding to the Moment: Participatory Approaches in Philanthropy” 🚨 What if the people impacted by philanthropy had a real say in where the money goes? 🤔 In our June program, Responding to the Moment: Participatory Approaches in Philanthropy, we learned that participatory grantmaking is doing just that - shifting decision-making power from traditional power centers, like foundation boards and donors, to the people and communities directly affected by the funder’s work. In her recent Insights piece, Katy Love from Fund for Shared Insight shared key takeaways from the program, exploring how the Kolibri Foundation & Brooklyn Org are using this model to create more inclusive, effective, and community-driven grantmaking. 🙌 👀 Sneak peek of takeaways: 💡 Start with clear boundaries – decide which steps in the grantmaking process are suitable for community involvement 🌍 Diverse voices are key – community members bring perspectives funders miss 💵 Pay your participants – value their time and insights ⚖️ Prepare for challenges – balancing power isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it! Want the full story or are interested in watching the program recording? Click below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/enMsPgTR #PowerShift #Philanthropy #CommunityVoices #ParticipatoryGrantmaking #Funders

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

Recommended Read on Philanthropy and Strategy I recently came across an article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy that challenges conventional approaches to grant-making in today’s polarized landscape. The piece, "Funding the Resistance Is Not a Winning Strategy. Here’s What Is", highlights pitfalls in some philanthropic trends. Instead, it argues for a more pluralistic and inclusive strategy. As someone who works at the intersection of community building and trust, this approach resonates deeply. Building trust across divides—whether ideological, social, or cultural—is critical for fostering cohesion and resilience in our institutions and communities. This article is a must-read for anyone in philanthropy, social impact, or civic engagement looking to reflect on their strategy and explore innovative ways to create long-term impact. 🔗 Read it here: