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Community-Driven Philanthropy

Community-Driven Philanthropy is a learning network of grantmakers committed to building intentional relationships with the communities and nonprofits they serve, where members share lessons learned on community-driven processes and trust-based partnerships through peer coaching, resource sharing, and more. 

About the Community

Participants surface opportunities and challenges connected to building trust with nonprofits and communities, examine the role of power, and engage in peer coaching and other activities. In addition to community-driven philanthropy, the group explores topics such as participatory grantmaking, trust-based philanthropy, and more. A key focus for the group is to look for ways to deepen existing community-driven practices, work through challenges within this work alongside peers, and to explore avenues for advocating for a community-driven approach to philanthropy within their organizations and beyond.

Community-Driven Philanthropy Peer Community participants surface opportunities and challenges In addition to community-driven philanthropy, the group explores topics such as participatory grantmaking, trust-based philanthropy and more. The network engages in peer coaching and other activities while being grounded in the idea that grantmaking is most equitable and effective when it meaningfully engages and includes a broad and diverse set of voices — including nonprofits, communities and key partners. Philanthropic practice becomes truly transformative when we center the expertise of those closest to the challenges we aim to address. 

Join the recently created Community-Driven Philanthropy Peer Community launching in June 2025 in response to a growing need in the field for grantmakers in the GEO community to connect with peers on shifting grantmaking practice and culture towards a more community-driven way of working. We invite you to join us and register for our first call here which will take place on June 10th at 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET.

Register for the CDP Peer Community Launch Call

  • Members of the CDP peer community are grantmakers working in various roles in organizations, from program and community engagement to diversity, equity and inclusion. Their role is uniquely situated to link between funders and the nonprofit communities we serve. 
  • We are grantmakers who want to think strategically and empathetically about how to transform network and community relationships for our organizations while analyzing power dynamics and centering racial equity. 
  • We are passionate about strengthening relationships and seek out innovative strategies to build trust between funders and nonprofit partners and communities. 
  • This peer community is open to grantmakers who are GEO members or member eligible. 

Participants attend quarterly 60-minute peer community calls where we engage with colleagues, participate in peer coaching and learning, and discuss emergent topics in the sector related to community, power and partnership. The community also hosts a Slack channel or LinkedIn Group where participants share resources, successes and challenges with colleagues. Other activities include networking opportunities at GEO events such as conferences. 

To join the Community-Driven Philanthropy Peer Community, please fill out this form. 

If you are interested in joining the Community-Driven Philanthropy (CDP) peer community, please complete the interest form or contact Allison Beck at beck@geofunders.org with any questions. 

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Learn More

If you are interested in joining the Community-Driven Philanthropy (CDP) peer community, please complete the interest form or contact Allison Beck at beck@geofunders.org with any questions.

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