Building Impact Partners is a philanthropy advising firm that works with changemakers who want to solve big challenges — and move people, communities and society forward for good. With expertise spanning philanthropy advising, social innovation and advocacy, and with a passion for equity and justice, our team has the insights, imagination and determination to build effective solutions that endure. To learn more about our people, approach and impact, visit: buildingimpactpartners.com.
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Relentless Pragmatist, Risk Taker, Coach & Entrepreneurial Problem Solver Focused on Building Lasting Solutions for People and Communities
We’re growing again at Building Impact Partners — check out this role and let me know if you’re interested!
August is Black Philanthropy Month. As the month comes to an end, we're sharing this interesting report by Giving Gap which underlines the crucial role Black-funded nonprofits play as service providers, agents of positive change, and champions of racial equity and justice. The report explores data that concludes with 7 key findings: Black leaders don’t hesitate to roll up their sleeves; Black leaders have been through it; Black leaders have skin in the game; Passion and commitment don’t pay the bills; Black nonprofits need to keep the lights on; Support is touch and go; and Money is key, but it isn’t everything. You can download the 2024 State of Black Nonprofits Report below.
At Building Impact Partners, we believe that the wealthiest Americans still have too many dollars on the sidelines that could ideally go into making impact through #philanthropy. That’s why we leverage our experience and skills to advise individuals, families, and institutions on how to plan and execute their philanthropic work. But we also know that giving and making impact are not exclusive to the super wealthy. That’s why it’s so lovely to see that generosity in the world is alive and well 🙂. See exhibit below from the World Giving Index 2024 Global Trends in Generosity by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).
Some interesting ideas about how to reset the relationship between foundations and grantees in this piece
Too often, the power dynamic between foundations and the communities they seek to support is uneven and inequitable, and community members have no guarantee that their funders will be accountable to them, argues Lora Smith of Justice Funders in this article for Nonprofit Quarterly. Smith introduces a framework that could serve as a “roadmap for foundations to better support community groups, providing philanthropy with an investment strategy and pragmatic steps for how foundations can shift capital and power to frontline BIPOC communities building local regenerative economies.”
Too often, the power dynamic between foundations and the communities they seek to support is uneven and inequitable, and community members have no guarantee that their funders will be accountable to them, argues Lora Smith of Justice Funders in this article for Nonprofit Quarterly. Smith introduces a framework that could serve as a “roadmap for foundations to better support community groups, providing philanthropy with an investment strategy and pragmatic steps for how foundations can shift capital and power to frontline BIPOC communities building local regenerative economies.”
Question: What really motivates donors to give? Rationality? Performance and impact of the nonprofit organization? Or is it fundamental goods including things like identity and belonging? In this piece published by the Center For Civil Society, Rachel Morgan shares some thoughts drawn from Jeremy Beer’s new book, The Quest for Belonging: How the Most Effective Fundraisers Understand the Psychology of Giving. If you’re a fundraiser (or - even - a donor), this short piece is for you. PS: While we are on this topic, it's a great time to plug the best selling book by president of Building Impact Partners, Alex Johnston - Money with Meaning: How to Create Joy and Impact through Philanthropy https://lnkd.in/eAXxhFAq
When it comes to transparency of their grants database, major donors and foundations appear to fall on a spectrum from open book to black box. So, Michael Kavate took it upon himself to track the grantmaking of some of the richest people on earth and classify them under six labels - from “Sunshine Funders” like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to “The Invisibles.” If you are curious to know where your favorite foundation falls on the spectrum, checkout this interesting piece on Inside Philanthropy.
Shoutout to Kevin Barenblat of Fast Forward and Nick Cain of The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation for sharing solid insights, themes and case studies from their research on how AI-powered nonprofits are helping to advance health equity. Kevin and Nick also share some recommendations for nonprofits and funders looking to leverage AI.
“Perhaps the broader hope with Bloomberg's latest gift — beyond the benefits to the four medical schools, the students that attend them and the patients they care for — is that more funders of every color will see the value of supporting HBCUs, rather than schools that already have multibillion-dollar endowments. The need is only increased by the attacks in recent years directed at affirmative action and DEI efforts.” AMEN. Read Paul Karon’s post on Inside Philanthropy…
We often hear experts and thought leaders call on nonprofit leaders to operate more like businesses. But in this piece for the Center for Effective Philanthropy, Nick Grono writes that there is value for business leaders to look at their nonprofit counterparts as they navigate “multiple, often competing and invariably vocal, constituencies.” “What equips effective nonprofit leaders to act as guides to business leaders…? The starting point is their practice of putting purpose at the center of their work. It’s also their experience operating in environments where outcomes are far less certain, and difficult to measure, and where power is shared between multiple stakeholders. All of this requires a significant degree of emotional intelligence and humility to navigate successfully.”