Philanthropy New York’s Post

Diana Hunter with Tides foundation is a special thinker - leading with love is not something I hear often. Her six questions to unpack blocks to trust-based philanthropy are spot on but one in particular is phrased so eloquently..."How are we allowing fear to drive our decisions?" Not "if" we are allowing, but "how." For me, it suggests how crucial it is to recognize that fear often masquerades as prudence, caution, or responsibility. Yet, when we let it dictate our actions, we end up creating barriers to the very trust we seek to build. I love that Diana is challenging us to consciously identify and address these fears, transforming them into opportunities for greater openness and genuine connection. It's a reminder that true philanthropy isn't just about resources, but about the courage to lead with vulnerability and integrity.

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.

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”…..

❤️ What would it look like to lead with love in philanthropy? Check out this new blog post from my Tides colleague Diana Hunter, who offers 6 reflection questions to help us explore this topic.

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

Last month, an article from Philanthropy Australia using recent data from US organisation Foundation Source highlighted how Gen Z and Millennials are approaching their philanthropic journey differently. This is a key piece of research for the philanthropic sector, and whilst these findings are specific to Australia, there are a lot of lessons that can be taken from this and applied to an Aotearoa New Zealand context. "New Gen attitudes, perceptions and even the language they use around philanthropy differ significantly from previous generations." Read the full report below. If you would like to start your philanthropic journey, get in touch with us today: info@aucklandfoundation.org.nz #giving #philanthropy #donate #generosity #volunteer #community

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

Are you curious about participatory practices within your foundation? Now, there is a tool for that! Article by Mike Scutari of Inside Philanthropy about Katy Love and my Advancing Participation in Philanthropy Tool: https://lnkd.in/eCwTKETS

As the fight for racial equity faces new challenges, a powerful affinity group of big-name funders is stepping up to ensure progress doesn’t falter. Our latest article on Inside Philanthropy explores how these leading philanthropic organizations are uniting to confront backsliding on racial equity and what their collaborative efforts mean for the future of social justice. Dawn Wolfe reports: The formation and goals of this influential affinity group Strategies they are using to address and prevent backsliding on racial equity The broader implications for racial justice and equity in philanthropy Tagging Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Ford Foundation MacArthur Foundation The James Irvine Foundation Annie E. Casey Foundation #RacialEquity #SocialJustice #FundersForEquity #CollaborativeGiving #EquityInAction #SocialImpact #AffinityGroup #RacialJustice #GrassrootsSupport #PhilanthropicImpact #EquityInitiatives #InsidePhilanthropy #Philanthropy

“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