Seattle Foundation’s Post

Celebrating Community Engagement, Trust, and Black Joy at The Learning Tree Common Ground Gathering Day 2 🌟 On the second day of the Common Ground Gathering, we were inspired by the keynote discussion featuring Pamela Ross Ross and Mark Lewis. Their insights into philanthropy, trust, and the power of Black joy in community empowerment were truly transformative. Pamela Ross, formerly of the Indianapolis Foundation, emphasized the importance of investing in Black joy to create resilient and thriving communities. Mark Lewis, President and CEO of the Poise Foundation, highlighted the significance of developing grassroots Black power through collective resource mobilization. Key Takeaways: Trust and Power Dynamics: Building genuine relationships within communities. Racial Equity: Holding institutions accountable and addressing structural biases. Black Joy as a Catalyst: Investing in joyous initiatives to foster unity and reduce violence. Grassroots Empowerment: Harnessing collective economic power and educating the next generation. #Philanthropy #CommunityEngagement #CollectivePower #BlackJoy #Trust #SustainableChange #Commongroundgathering2024 https://lnkd.in/gK26R9MH

Differences = Strength I've learned this recently in a generosity conversation with our kids. As we have intentionally and increasingly included them in giving discussions over the last couple of years, there have been differences. Out of those differences came a few things: 1. New cause area of passion. We have teenagers and young 20s. We don't see eye to eye on everything. That difference actually provided a platform to discover something new on which we can all agree. 2. More focused giving. After reviewing last year's giving, our kids challenged us to say "no" to more things so we can invest more deeply in a few things. 3. Continuum giving. Our kids recognized an investment in one part of a cause but not the continuum of serving that population. They asked us to consider a deeper investment further along the continuum of care. Differences may cause disruption. It's what we do with that disruption that matters. In this case, the the differences have lead to unity and strength. What about you? Are you engaging the next generation in your giving? #generosity #generations #family

Join us on April 18 for a book talk with renowned organizers and activists Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor, as they share insights from their latest work, "Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea." In conversation with Stanford PACS Research Scholar Aaron Horvath, Leah and Astra will explore the pivotal role that #philanthropy can play in supporting and sustaining #solidarity as a powerful movement for change. Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gxAKmxx4

When The David and Lucile Packard Foundation launched Starting Smart and Strong in 2014, partnering with three different communities to build robust early learning systems, we knew that each community’s context was unique and that a traditional top-down approach wouldn’t lead to lasting success or equitable outcomes. That’s why we decided to try power sharing, adopting an approach called “co-creation,” a form of stakeholder engagement that prioritizes mutual trust and respect, shared decision-making responsibility, and the inclusion of diverse perspectives. Though the concept of power sharing was gaining traction across philanthropy, it was new for us – exciting, innovative, and full of potential. Over the next decade, we would learn what it meant to truly share power. Read about the missteps we made and the lessons we learned in the blog post and full case study linked in the comments below. ⬇️ #powersharing #philanthropy #powerdynamics

Exciting news for those of us working with nonprofits and young people! Recent studies show a heartening trend: empathy is on the rise among late Millennials and Gen Z. Prof. Sara Konrath's research reveals empathy levels comparable to the 1970s highs! Key takeaways: - Both cognitive and emotional empathy are growing - This trend contradicts negative stereotypes about youth - Empathy is dynamic and can change with societal shifts As someone dedicated to supporting nonprofits, I'm inspired by this positive shift. It promises a future of more compassionate leaders and engaged citizens. What are your thoughts on this trend? How can we in the nonprofit sector harness this growing empathy? #Empathy #NonProfit #GenerationalTrends #PositiveChange

Already we are seeing Millennials and GenZ change what philanthropy looks like. Called "The Activist Generations," they are championing causes in unique ways. How can a generation that doesn't yet have extravagant wealth or excessive assets give so much to these causes? Simple: They don't measure their philanthropy by the dollars they give; they measure the impact their actions have. These generations have a more hands-on in their approach to solving the world's greatest problems. This can be seen in how they: - Use social media to inspire their peers to give and volunteer - Build relationships with those closest to the problems to find specific solutions for those affected - Seek sustainable impact and let go of outdated practices that do not provide sustainable impact While there may be a lot we can teach the next generations, there are still quite a few lessons they can teach us. Are you willing to learn? #nextgen #lessons #philanthropy

People often tell me that we don’t have time for conversations. 🧐 That what we need is big system change, disruptive innovation, and political action. ⚙️ Then I’m left to ask the question: how do you think those things happen? They happen by human interactions. 🗣️ How can we uplevel the way we communicate during this time of existential threat? What tools are already available and how can we bring this to each other and ourselves? At scale? What is the role of organizations and philanthropy in skilling up these capacities quickly? More on this in my weekly Substack. Link in the comments. ✨ #nvc #Compassion #Existentialpsychology #listening #innerdevelopmentgoals #capacitybuilding #philanthropy

You know the Sillerman Center loves our giving circles, and Grapevine is a platform that truly understands the importance of the giving circle movement! "The growth of the [giving circle] movement is partly due to people’s desire to connect, both to their giving and to other people. Social isolation and loneliness are on the rise, not just among older people, but also among other generations, including Gen-Z, as IP has written. But another reason for the explosive growth of the giving circle model is the way it lends itself to tech-driven implementation, such as through the giving-circle-focused platform Grapevine." To learn more check out this article: https://lnkd.in/du75uPSx

It's fascinating how much we talk about our work and yet can still be trying to find the best words to describe what we do. The words that will resonate with our ideal client or advisor of that client. The words that really match what they are feeling or experiencing. I know some people refer to it as the elevator pitch, but what if we don't have that long to attract someone's attention. What if we're going to lose them in our first sentence? Which of course we don't want to do. So it was fun as I was talking with Stefanie Borsari, CAP today when I found new words to describe Philanthropy Camp for Women. I even caught myself after I said it, recognizing what a great description it was of this experience. I hope you'll think so too. I see Philanthropy Camp for Women as a journey--for a group of peers and myself--to look at their giving and see how far they go in our time together, to see where they start and where they end up. My hope is always that they end up in a place of more clarity and confidence in their giving. And that their journey continues. If that resonates, you know where to find me. #philanthropy #giving #philanthropyadvisor

Don’t focus on the similarities because differences can be hard. Lean into your family’s differences to make the world a better place. It’s our differences that give us our strengths. If you struggle to find a way to harness those differences and bring your family together, don’t worry. You are not the only one. Here are 9️⃣ top ways to involve family members in family philanthropy: 1: Understand Individual Interests and Passions 2: Encourage Active Participation 3: Leverage Diverse Skills and Expertise 4: Facilitate Hands-On Experiences 5: Embrace Generational Differences 6: Tailor Engagement Levels 7: Establish Clear Communication Channels 8: Celebrate Contributions 9: Seek Expert Guidance When Needed It’s by approaching your family philanthropy with openness and inclusivity that you will all come together and create an incredible legacy. Which of these tips are you going to start focusing on to improve your family philanthropy? Let me know in the comments! 👇 #FamilyFoundation #PhilanthropyConsultant #FamilyPhilanthropy