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Funders often struggle to back civic engagement and community power building. In this guest piece, three authors whose organizations collaboratively fund that work suggest some changes in approach.
We spoke with the leader of this prominent California social justice funder to discuss her career, her experience as the daughter of Korean immigrants, threats to American democracy, and more.
Nick Tilsen is one of philanthropy’s leading advocates for building Indigenous power and self-determination. We chatted with him about his organization, lessons learned from 20-plus years of activism and more.
More progressive organizations are using a “multi-entity” approach, such as working through both a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4). Guest author Deborah Barron discusses how funders can back them more boldly and effectively.
When David and Georgia Welles launched the family’s Cricket Island Foundation, they prioritized family participation across generations. That continues today, and has led the funder to its current focus on youth organizing.
Even as climate justice groups remain underfunded, the restorative work they’re engaged in grows ever more urgent. Guest author Supriya Lopez Pillai says now is the time for funders to commit to more transformative approaches.
With an eclectic mix of funders and a holistic and long-term plan, this field-building organization is seeking reparations for Black Americans. We connected with co-founder and managing director Aria Florant to learn more.
The Collaborative for Gender and Reproductive Equity was working at the state level long before the end of Roe v. Wade. Today, it’s more convinced than ever that the states are where the fight over abortion will be won or lost.
With backing from several major funders, this partnership is helping community-based environmental and climate groups secure government funding. It’s also helping such groups link up and build power.
In an open letter to philanthropy, 11 major funders have called on their peers to support Black feminist movements in the U.S. and abroad. Leaders from the Black Feminist Fund say this work is crucial to a safer and more just world.
As we mark what should have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the fight for reproductive justice continues. Guest author Elizabeth Barajas-Román explains why women’s funds are so crucial right now.
Both ENDS is a Netherlands-based organization that is challenging power dynamics in philanthropy in a number of ways. Director Danielle Hirsch talks about the group’s journey, its approach and why discomfort is a good thing.
While foundation support for workers’ rights can be scarce, General Service Foundation has been on the case since the 1990s. Now, it's taking things a step further by investing its endowment in alignment with the cause.
The Just Trust’s new Safer Communities Accelerator is getting behind groups “working within the system and outside of it.” The trust’s overall approach involves funding direct services as well as broader justice reform advocacy.
With support from major U.S. funders, a new initiative called M-POWER is combining the forces of government, philanthropy and labor organizations to bolster workers’ rights and advance democracy.
The Climate Funders Justice Pledge has helped shift $60 million in new commitments to BIPOC-led climate groups since early 2021. Still, despite its intentionally low bar, many top grantmakers have yet to sign on.
An iconic LGBTQ community funder, the Bay Area-based Horizons Foundation has spent decades building up the grassroots. Today, though it’s still modest in size, its impact extends to the national and international stage.
Since June, one concern has been that an initial spike in giving to protect abortion access would fall away. However, the National Network of Abortion Funds still reports solid engagement from donors large and small.
The front-line workers who make organizing groups work are burned out, underpaid and under-appreciated. Guest authors from Ford Foundation and All Due Respect argue that funders can and must make organizing sustainable.
With U.S. democracy in crisis, guest contributors Mike Berkowitz and Rachel Kleinfeld argue that philanthropy cannot stick to its usual playbook. They outline five ways funders can update their approach.
The Economic Security Project’s Antimonopoly Fund spent three years backing a variety of fronts in the battle against bigness. The movement has notched some wins, but will funders stick with it over the long haul?
Interest in funding narrative change is growing, but there’s little consensus on how to pursue that goal, or who should lead the charge. A new report dives into those questions, explicitly acknowledging that “values” are at stake.
As donors large and small scramble to support people seeking abortion care, here are a few things to keep in mind about what the field needs now and what it needs over the longer term.
Thanks to a $20 million gift from MacKenzie Scott, United Way Bay Area is expanding its housing justice work. It’s one example of how the mega-donor’s unrestricted funding is being used to tackle a pressing regional need.
Trans and gender-nonconforming people are facing a rise in physical and legislative violence. Overall, philanthropy continues to dedicate mere pennies to the problem, but there are some signs of an uptick in funding.
The movement for workers’ rights has never been a philanthropic staple, but recent unionization wins on the ground have coincided with broadening funder support. Here’s a short list of labor-friendly funders we’re keeping an eye on.
The founder of the Democracy Alliance, who died earlier this month, tried to rally progressive funders to copy the Right's infrastructure-building. But wealthy donors had other, less effective, ideas about where to put their money.
Instituto works through a 501(c)(3), a 501(c)(4) and a PAC to cultivate in-state funding. Here’s what it’s doing to support progressive power-building, and how it’s reckoning with the fact that demographics doesn’t always equal destiny.
With a possible midterm wipeout on the horizon, some progressive funders remain committed to vanguard issues that large numbers of the traditional Democratic base don’t prioritize. Is that a problem?
At long last, our two-time winner for Philanthropist of the Year has dropped another Medium post—this time with the names of grantees included. Here are some key takeaways.