How does one cultivate the capacity to embrace solidarity-centered grantmaking?

continuous learning, dialogue, and action. read our full framework here.

The Reimagining Philanthropy learning journey is guided by an overarching theoretical framework that views learning as a social process with transformative potential that situates organizational leadership, philanthropic staff, and grantees within a broader power analysis. The goal of Reimagining Philanthropy is to support organizations both vertically and horizontally to embrace solidarity-centered grantmaking strategies as a long-term commitment to social change.

Background

In 2020, the global uprisings against racism and anti-Black violence were reinvigorated by the mass response to the extrajudicial murder of George Floyd (U.S.) and racialized health disparities experienced during the global. The COVID-19 pandemic galvanized the philanthropic sector to pursue racial equity as a field-wide objective. As organizations paused to consider the role of race and racism in shaping the sector, public critique of philanthropy reached a fever pitch as grassroots approaches to solidarity superseded the reach and vision of traditional forms of philanthropy.

Mutual aid funds and social movement-based funds, supported by grassroots individuals and groups, demonstrated how social problems are experienced by local constituencies. In addition, these people-powered funds offered a snapshot of how grassroots constituencies have and continue to create and seed local solutions to local needs. We believe that through education, dialogue, and action, traditional philanthropy can work in solidarity with such localized fund approaches to redressing the most pressing global social problems. We developed Reimagining Philanthropy as a transformative learning approach that fosters the adoption of solidarity-centered grantmaking practices. Read our full framework here.

Past clients have included:

Hewlett Foundation

Children Investment Fund Foundation

Elma Philanthropies

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Washington Women’s Foundation

Open Society Foundation

Packard Foundation