Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ Post

I co-authored a thing! Collaborating with folks involved in the Democracy and Power Innovation Fund has been a highlight of my year, and I'm grateful I had the chance to work with Kelly Nowlin on this op-ed to share lessons learned from the first five years of DPI. Kelly and I feel strongly that supporting community-based, multiracial democratic practice is an essential strategy for philanthropy, including family and small foundations. In practice this means: ⭐ Support locally led groups in building their ability to organize and wield power. ⭐ 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. ⭐ 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. ⭐ Be curious about the diversity of needs, values and worldviews within Black, Latino, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native communities. “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.” https://lnkd.in/dn9ACb2S

"Philanthropy is crucial to sustaining and strengthening democracy, now more than ever. Trust-based philanthropy, like democracy, happens through practice. Both require commitment, rigor, and adaptivity...if funders understand our collective goal to be strengthening and sustaining democracy, trust-based philanthropy has a major role to play." -Pia Infante, Senior Fellow, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. Read the full article below to learn how philanthropic leaders and institutions are exercising democratic, trust-based practices that could contribute to a more multiracial democracy in our time💡. #democracy #trustbasedphilanthropy #TheFutureofPhilanthropyIsTrustBased

“The ultimate work of trust-based philanthropy is to build a democracy that acknowledges the role of structural racism in the creation of wealth in the United States. One where decision-making takes place in communities rather than behind foundation doors. A democracy that is a daily practice emphasizing the connections between our work and the solutions that collaboration makes possible. Like democracy, trust-based philanthropy is strengthened through practice. Its impact only grows when it’s implemented collectively.” Building a Multiracial Democracy (SSIR)

Alliance magazine's June edition is free to download! And this edition's theme is Philanthropy and the Common Good... More info: "The atomisation of society, an economy based on competition and growing distrust of politics and of institutions in general: these are some of the factors that have led to a diminished commitment to the common good. What role does philanthropy have in revivifying the notion and helping to secure its various elements, especially where philanthropy itself is one of the institutions facing scepticism? Could philanthropy’s commitment to this issue help to restore its own legitimacy and make it a trusted voice in the future shape of societies?" Read it here: https://lnkd.in/erpnKkCH

For many funders, #democracy represents a complex and multifaceted area of focus. We learn time and time again how crucial it is to support democratic initiatives both domestically and globally to promote stability, equity, and effective governance. Explore "A Framework for Democracy Philanthropy"—a detailed strategy outlined by Daniel Stid on The Art of Association's blog—to guide your approach to democracy #philanthropy and make a meaningful #impact. https://lnkd.in/dQt4xMwt

"In recent years, we have seen some funders change the window dressing of their grantmaking to resemble trust-based practices. But trust-based philanthropy is deeper than a shift to multiyear grantmaking or simplifying grant applications. 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. Vigilance is especially important if we understand philanthropy as a direct product of racialized power in this country. If we can change relationships in our sector, imagine the potential for change on an even broader scale." https://lnkd.in/eER56Av8

I stumbled across this fascinating article in The Atlantic about the little-known philanthropist, Julius Rosenwald. Rosenwald understood that true philanthropy isn’t just about giving; it’s about addressing the root causes of inequality. He believed in empowering communities to create lasting change, not just providing temporary solutions. At the Women's Business Development Council, we share this commitment. By providing training, mentoring, and capital to women entrepreneurs, we’re not just supporting individuals; we’re investing in economic empowerment and creating a more equitable future. Just like Rosenwald, we believe that by breaking down barriers and providing opportunities, we can create a world where everyone has the chance to succeed. How can you build a world where everyone has an equal chance to succeed? https://lnkd.in/eWMUiNYk

Ed B. is a Program Officer on our Strategic Investments team. He recently published an article in Blue Avocado that sheds an important light on the nonprofit sector's relationship with racial justice. He shares learnings from the work he helps move forward and offers helpful guidance for others hoping to advance racial equity. "...these legacies [systemic racism] have serious implications for the long-term financial sustainability of BIPOC-led organizations. The challenges that many BIPOC-led organizations face when trying to raise unrestricted revenue, build up operating reserves, or maintain an organizational surplus are directly linked to the larger disparities in wealth and equitable access to financial capital for BIPOC households more broadly. These systems are interconnected and cannot be separated from each other. As such, they necessitate a critical rethinking around how the philanthropic sector should invest in and support those same communities in ways that actively undo those legacies of injustice." ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gjw5BPYv

If there's one article you read this week, make it this one: https://lnkd.in/gF_TgBFS Thanks to Trish Adobea Tchume for sending it my way- I'm hoping this article can help bridge the gap between the wisdom of grassroots activists and the traditional nonprofit sector, as there are folks who've known for a long time just how broken the Nonprofit Industrial Complex is, and others just now arriving at the concept. This article helps bridge that gap, and hopefully can contribute to us all organizing in a better direction together: "If we really want to create an equitable and sustainable society, we must leverage the power of a multiracial democracy. Strategic philanthropy has long professed to seek the “root causes” behind each societal challenge, but what if the primary root cause behind every social and environmental issue facing the United States is the failure of our political process to ensure the well-being of our entire population?"

Would a thoughtful discussion of trust based philanthropy in an age of suspicion, partisanship, recrimination, and intimidation be possible? Buried in this article are conservative success stories that deserve attention and even emulation on the left. Earned trust between grantors and grantees evolving into partnership or solidarity over time to shift public opinion, public policy, grant money, and, yes, power. https://lnkd.in/ettAhzsc