Re-imagining the INGO (RINGO)’s Post

Last week the Global Majority fund launched its call to action to funders seeking to fund racial justice work. You may look at these calls and be thinking: “None of these calls are radical”. You would be correct. They are based on the wealth of experience of our funded partners and the body of evidence that exists from well respected organisations such as The Ubele Initiative, #CharitySoWhite, Runnymede Trust and others. As funders, investing in racial justice requires a two prong approach: Firstly, ensuring meaningful and long term resources are ring fenced for Global Majority-led organisations (not projects) enabling them to determine where and how to invest these resources. Secondly, to critically explore internal systems, structures and policies that disproportionately excludes Global Majority-led organisations from accessing mainstream funding. Funder practice can reinforce and uphold inequality. Whilst ring fenced funding for Global Majority-led organisations is important, funding for racial justice is increasingly drying up so main stream funding needs to be more accessible. To every funder who joined us last week at the panel discussion, thankyou for your interest and for starting this journey with us. We look forward to following up discussions on how we can further this call to action in the New Year. For funders who sadly couldn’t join us - we will be reaching out to share with you highlights from the event and to explore how you can join this us on this movement. If there are any other funders who would like to find out more, please do get in touch with me! I would love to connect. Lastly - in the spirit of transparency to end with two reflections. Firstly, Comic Relief has begun work on these call to actions. We are starting that transition and building an action plan (see my previous post on why I haven’t used the term “journey”) - and future LinkedIn posts will reflect on how we are doing. Secondly, as Comic Relief deepens our engagement and work with the #ShiftthePower movement, we will explore how in the UK, organisations working on racial justice can better align with this community. There is a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share and synergies with what we are trying to do - that it makes sense we consider how the principles of #ShiftthePower can have meaning in the UK given racial justice work is rooted in deep solidarity with the local communities we are trying to serve. More updates on this and reflections to follow! Grateful for any thoughts from the racial justice and #ShiftthePower community on this! Fund Reference Group (FRG) National Emergencies Trust Esmée Fairbairn Foundation The Health Foundation City Bridge Foundation