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Today is #NationalPhilanthropyDay, and I feel like it’s the perfect time for us as a sector to reflect, learn, & work differently ... a thread.
Philanthropy, where does your money come from? We need to start there.
How was the wealth accumulated that you’re now “giving” away? At whose expense? On whose lands? Who benefited and who didn’t? What are you going to do about it now? #NationalPhilanthropyDay
How was the wealth accumulated that you’re now “giving” away? At whose expense? On whose lands? Who benefited and who didn’t? What are you going to do about it now? #NationalPhilanthropyDay
Who decides your priorities? We often talk about philanthropy being a tool to support community & make change, but who is deciding the priorities, who is is involved in decision-making, & who decides what is impactful? #NationalPhilanthropyDay
Look at examples like @ONIndigenous, @nwtontheland, & @FundingAction to see what real community engagement and participatory grant making can look like! #NationalPhilanthropyDay
Power... it’s a huge thing in our sector. I’m still surprised at how many people in our sector fail to see the power imbalance between funders & the partners we work with.
We have the money and control people’s livelihoods, that’s a power imbalance.
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
We have the money and control people’s livelihoods, that’s a power imbalance.
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
At @MastercardFdn we draw on our values in all that we do. We engage deeply in relationship building with Indigenous communities & post-secondary institutions.
We then use co-creation to hear the vision of community & find ways to get behind impactful work.
We then use co-creation to hear the vision of community & find ways to get behind impactful work.
What is considered impactful (or not) & who decides that matters? How are communities engaged in defining what is impactful?
Funders we need to stop forcing partners into our boxes & shift the burden of responsibility. If it’s our box we should do the work to make things fit.
Funders we need to stop forcing partners into our boxes & shift the burden of responsibility. If it’s our box we should do the work to make things fit.
Big shoutout to @TheCircleCanada!
The team has shifted the conversation in the philanthropic sector. They’ve forced foundations to engage more deeply in relationship with Indigenous communities and to work differently across their organizations.
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
The team has shifted the conversation in the philanthropic sector. They’ve forced foundations to engage more deeply in relationship with Indigenous communities and to work differently across their organizations.
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
As foundations our values need to transcend all that we do. They can’t merely apply to our grant making.
If we believe in equity, reconciliation, feminism or something else how do those values shape all that we do?
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
If we believe in equity, reconciliation, feminism or something else how do those values shape all that we do?
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
Start by looking at your investment portfolio. What is your investment strategy? Do you prioritize profits over social/environmental impact? Do your investments further or hinder your mission?
Check out @Raven_Capital, @share_ca & @RallyAssets.
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
Check out @Raven_Capital, @share_ca & @RallyAssets.
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
Human Resources.
Does your staff, particularly at senior levels, represent the communities your serve? What are you doing to support entry level staff to build capacity & take on leadership roles? How do you value lived experience & relationships? Are people being pushed out?
Does your staff, particularly at senior levels, represent the communities your serve? What are you doing to support entry level staff to build capacity & take on leadership roles? How do you value lived experience & relationships? Are people being pushed out?
Procurement. I’m still so surprised how much we suck at this. So often procurement processes are biased & favour bigger & whiter orgs.
Do you have a social procurement strategy? Are the consultants, venues, caterers, etc. you hire representative of the communities you serve?
Do you have a social procurement strategy? Are the consultants, venues, caterers, etc. you hire representative of the communities you serve?
On the catering front, I don’t get why we’ll happily spend $20/person on dry sandwiches when we can get oxtail with rice and peas, Indian tacos, or 5 samosas for a $1 from Scarborough for a fraction of the price!!!
For real, this should be a no brainer.
Spending down, if your foundation exists because of an endowment, you should at least have that conversation.
Is your foundation still relevant? Could spending down make the greatest impact? What does community want? If you’re getting push back around the conversation internally ask why? It’s easy to become self-important working in philanthropy.
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
On the granting side.
Who are you giving to? What percentage of grants go to Indigenous-led organizations? Black-led organizations? Youth-led work? Grassroots work? Are you just funding the big, status quo organizations because you know them? #NationalPhilanthropyDay
Who are you giving to? What percentage of grants go to Indigenous-led organizations? Black-led organizations? Youth-led work? Grassroots work? Are you just funding the big, status quo organizations because you know them? #NationalPhilanthropyDay
Risk
What does risk really mean? Is it code for racism? Who is & isn’t deemed risky? White orgs serving BIPOC communities often aren’t “risky” but our own are.
We need to interrogate what risk means to our organizations & not be afraid to take risks. #NationalPhilanthropyDay
What does risk really mean? Is it code for racism? Who is & isn’t deemed risky? White orgs serving BIPOC communities often aren’t “risky” but our own are.
We need to interrogate what risk means to our organizations & not be afraid to take risks. #NationalPhilanthropyDay
LAND BACK... seriously, philanthropy how are we supporting Indigenous Nations in getting our lands back?
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
#NationalPhilanthropyDay
Western & institutionalized philanthropy we need to constantly reflect on our existence, which is tied to land theft, wealth accumulation, inadequate taxation policy, & inequity. Does our existence perpetuate that? How are we working towards a future where we're no longer needed?
