Lisa Ranghelli of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy argues that confronting the role of power in perpetuating disparities leads to true progress in health, housing, education, criminal justice and every other major societal issue.
The incubation mentality is the belief that effective nonprofits have to eventually “grow” out of whatever partnership they are in, whether it’s with a fiscal sponsor or a funding partner. It is a pervasive mentality, happening all across our sector, and it is downright harmful to our work.
As a leader in your organization and community, it is critical that you’re not only aware of your existing relationships, but that you’re prioritizing them based on value.
When is an organization no longer a ‘start-up’? Is it age, size, or some other acquired wisdom that moves it out of the ‘test and experiment’ stage into the ‘institutional’ one? When is it time for an organization to change or adapt? Do we revisit strategies every 3 or 5 years because they are ‘round numbers’? Or do we watch the world around us and continuously react? How do you know when to grow?
Lowell Weiss and Jennifer Hoos Rothberg, executive director of the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust, continue their longstanding dialogue about how funders can pay careful heed–not just lip service–to what their grantees need for improving performance.
Shaping policy that influences and shapes what government does cannot and should not be relegated to nonprofits acting by themselves or to individuals in town hall meetings. Grantmakers have a powerful voice to contribute to these deliberations.
PEAK Grantmaking has been taking a look at how grantmakers can better align their grantmaking practices to their values through our Walk the Talk initiative.
The funders who catalyze change are those who show up at community and public meetings, attend local nonprofit conferences, talk with people in different walks of life. By engaging with people and listening, they develop insight into challenges and opportunities.
