Discover the four funding practices they prioritized in this article by me, Chiara K. Cattaneo, Jody Myrum, and Erin Lynn Williams in @npquarterly.bsky.social:
nonprofitquarterly.org/how-to-fund-...

This was not simply a theoretical exercise; it was a demonstration of what can be achieved in a 90-minute session with folks that have the wisdom and experience to be decisive about 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱.

Earlier this year, Elemental, Our Collective Practice, and Constellations Fund facilitated an activity that asked 50+ movement communicators and narrative practitioners to 𝗰𝗼-𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀.

As foundations reconsider their strategies and redesign their approaches to narrative grantmaking, we encourage them to 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 that reflects what the field knows to be most necessary and effective."

Immerse yourself in the collective observations, experiences, and imaginations of people working across the philanthropic sector. And tell us what you think — comments are welcome!

Each contributor centers their inquiry on a specific narrative that has been embedded in philanthropy's design. They illustrate what became possible when they revised flawed assumptions and took simple, practical steps toward a vision where we are all flourishing.

This series invites you to engage your imagination and consider propositions for how to release the inherited habits that do not serve us and embrace the opportunity that's before us to practice the future today.

As part of Elemental's “The Myths of Philanthropy” series, Jim Cooke/Association of Charitable Foundations explores the limitations of individualism and how acting collectively can enable funders to contribute to more ambitious goals.

www.funderscollaborativehub.org.uk/blogs/beyond...

...Faced with the trade-offs of responding to rising demand with finite resources, individual funders may be painfully aware of all the things they can’t do. But thinking collectively, and working in an ‘ecosystem aware’ way, enables each funder to focus on what they can do.”

To learn more about current unionization trends in the social justice sector, join this online briefing with Neighborhood Funders Group, Beyond Neutrality, Ford Foundation, and Amalgamated Foundation on June 23rd: nfg.org/events/union...

As part of Elemental's “The Myths of Philanthropy” series, Leanne Sajor and Neda Said of Neighborhood Funders Group explore what worker power building could look like in philanthropy to move funder organizers together toward a common goal.

www.funderscollaborativehub.org.uk/blogs/belabo...

While organizing philanthropic workplaces is not revolutionary work, it is one way to leverage our influence in a sector with few formal systems of accountability, and to demonstrate our commitment to worker organizing and power building in a way that supports funder organizing more broadly.”

...While many in philanthropy fund organizations that advocate for worker’s rights, rarely does it occur to them that an answer to their own struggles might be found in worker power building within their own institutions...

As part of Elemental's “The Myths of Philanthropy” series, Vanessa Thomas/Black Feminist Fund explores the value of funder adopting operational practices that reflect the understanding that our liberation is bound together.

www.funderscollaborativehub.org.uk/blogs/the-fu...

This means resourcing creatively and in a plethora of ways, including investing in narrative and base building strategies, land back campaigns, and capital costs."

...This is not a time for anticipatory obedience or passive adaptation. It's past time for funders to step up and invest in Black feminist movements with the urgency and abundance required, funding expansively and beyond the limiting binaries that feel comfortable and safe...

...Contending with this truth enables us to situate our work in philanthropy as an act of repair, not a benevolent act of generosity. We can take on a role that recognizes our healing is interconnected, and we have a moral imperative to work together in relationships of real solidarity...

As part of Elemental's “The Myths of Philanthropy” series, explore what becomes possible when funders operate in ways that encourage leaders to collaborate rather than compete.

www.funderscollaborativehub.org.uk/blogs/solida...