“True participation recognizes that our community is not just nonprofit leaders or community activists or those working on a particular issue, but instead, it is all people. True participation also includes the ability to contribute to, inform and sometimes decide strategy, funding priorities, investments and learning priorities.”
This publication focuses on 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. This approach involves nurturing relationships and repairing and fostering trust, particularly with groups whose insights have been historically undervalued and systemically omitted. By elevating these voices as issue experts, key leaders and decision-makers, we unlock new possibilities for effective and equitable grantmaking that resonates with the real needs and aspirations of communities.
This resource aims to provide grantmakers with tools for advancing community-driven practices, amplify examples from the GEO community that showcase the benefits and approaches to go deeper towards a community-driven model. Readers can also delve deep into the highlighted resources that aim to equip grantmakers with data and provocations to shift towards an equity–centered approach to community-driven philanthropy.
This publication is available for digital download only.