Opinion: What’s Holding Philanthropists Back?
When I think about social and racial equity and how it shows up — and how it doesn’t — in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, I wonder what’s holding us back.
Improving the capacity of funders to invest more equitably will involve larger, longer, less restricted investments. More meaningful introductions and connective relationships. Collaboration. New and straightforward structures for increasing resources and impact. Rethinking and reframing what we mean by “risk” and talking about it powerfully with donors.
And it’s going to mean investing directly in the leadership and organizations created and led by leaders of color, immigrants, rural leaders, working organizers and activists and program developers who went to public universities — or maybe not to university at all. Genuinely looking for experience and quality in communities’ leaders means funders will begin finding them in unfamiliar places. …