The changing demographics and political attitudes of the Central Valley - a traditionally conservative region of California - demand new strategies for community and civic engagement.
Californians will head to the polls to decide on a ballot measure that could drive more money to education.
What practices help buy ourselves up amid continued suffering, outsized need, and needless violence and put our shoulders behind possibility, transformative movements, and new connection? How do we maintain steadiness and clear-sightedness about the steps toward a future worth living?
In philanthropy, we sometimes overlook or deprioritize the interpersonal skills required to do this work well. This includes the ability to connect dots, show up in an emotionally intelligent way, listen actively and empathically, and know when to get out of the way. It also requires a clear understanding of power, and how power imbalances between funders and grantee partners are exacerbated by race, gender, and class inequities. Cultivating and advancing effective interpersonal skills requires practitioners to bring self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and willingness to take multiple perspectives into account.
The work we do in philanthropy—and the work of our nonprofit partners—is not immune to the complexities and chaos of a changing world. Amidst a global pandemic, threats to our democracy, and environmental devastation, we are pushed to be hyperproductive problem-solvers. While these tendencies are brought to bear “in the heat of the moment,” they’re limiting over the long-term, especially when strategic thinking and attuned sensitivities are needed. We cultivate the latter by slowing down, stilling our minds, getting in touch with signals from our body, and allowing the resulting data to inform our action. Beneath our professional titles and roles, trust-based philanthropy acknowledges that we are one piece of a longer arc of time and a larger ecosystem, and that sometimes, we have to go slowly if we want to go far.
A stronger, more just California becomes possible when every Californian, regardless of what they look like or how long they’ve been here, can shape the future of our state. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, around 80% of California’s registered voters voted, the highest since 1964.
Trust-based philanthropy is anchored in an understanding of power and privilege, historical and systemic racism and structural oppression, and how these shape people’s realities in profoundly different ways. As grantmakers, we have a responsibility to confront the reality that philanthropy originated from and has often contributed to systemic inequities, both in the ways wealth is accumulated and its dissemination is controlled. While these discussions may be challenging and difficult, this type of self-reflection is fundamental to the work of trust-based philanthropy. As individuals and institutions, we must be willing to recognize historical trauma and systemic power, examine our own relationship to power and money, and be willing to give up some of that power and control in a spirit of service and collaboration with those who are closer to the issues at hand.
Trust-based philanthropy encourages us to rethink our notions of traditional philanthropic roles, which tend to prioritize transactions over relationships. In fact, a trust-based approach encourages us to understand our roles as partners working in service of nonprofits and communities. Traditional Philanthropy has institutionalized and perpetuated harmful tropes about funders as experts and nonprofits as needy people who need to be held accountable. This has been perpetuated institutionally through our grantmaking practices, but also in less obvious ways, such as job descriptions, theories of change, program descriptions, and the language we use to describe our work.
A virtual convening featuring Governor Gavin Newsom in conversation with state water leaders.
The Tahoe Truckee Emergency Response Fund was established in March of 2020 to respond to local needs during the COVID-19 crisis. Currently, we are taking donations to respond to local needs related to fires and the pandemic.
Donating to help San Franciscans most impacted by the coronavirus.
Your tax-deductible donations will help protect the health of San Francisco and support the most vulnerable, including individuals, families, and local businesses.
Donations will directly support:
The UC San Diego COVID-19 Response Discretionary Fund has been established to support our students, patients, caregivers, and community at this unprecedented moment for our university and the world.
Children in low-income and first-responder families across our region will experience hardship as a result of the Coronavirus crisis and recent school closures. From more limited access to school breakfast and lunch to a shortage of reliable childcare, families already struggling to make ends mee
On March 19, 2020, Senate Majority Leader McConnell proposed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.
The LAFD Foundation is accepting funds to help purchase and replenish important Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our firefighters + paramedics on the front lines.
The Caldor Fire Fund has been established to support the families impacted by this fire, and your entire donation will go to support those families. With your support, we can help to make a difference in the lives of those who need us now more than ever.
The El Dorado Community Foundation Community Relief Fund acts as the conduit to meet critical community needs in times of disasters. These can include assistance in housing during prolonged winter power outages, assistance with displacement in mandatory evacuations and supporting our community p
Donations will go directly to Maui United Way to support Maui victims
We will see you soon at the Better California Gathering on December 6th at Northern California Grantmakers.
Questions?
Contact Steve Barton at sbarton@ncg.org