“We need to shift funding decisions from which orgs write the best proposal and have the best “capacity” and start considering factors such as do at least half their board members and the majority of their senior staff come from the communities they’re serving.”
Important article about Funders’ Role in Protecting Marginalized Communities During the Next Four Years.
Some recommendations gathered from speaking to leaders from marginalized communities, especially communities of color:
- Assess how much you’re investing in organizations led by communities of color and other marginalized communities
- Increase your payout
- Change your priorities around how you select which orgs get funding
- Stop listening to the siren song of “strategic philanthropy”
- Take risks and accept failure. And do it faster