Ben Francisco Maulbeck’s Post

A must read for anyone in #philanthropy seeking to change it's assumptions and practices. Shoutout to Isabel Sousa for your insights! "Many of our peers are far along in examining their grantmaking philosophy and practice. Others are just beginning. Still, others are stuck, unsure of the risk they are willing to take to use their power to challenge the fields we have helped sustain. We hope that this report serves as a stepping stone for action. To our peers in #philanthropy, we urge you to question the assumptions rooted in privileges that have been passed down to us. We risk causing more harm by perpetuating an inequitable system than by attempting to change it." Link to download the report: https://lnkd.in/eZPJAYQE

Out now: The Hazen Foundation’s final report, “Reevaluating Practice: Reimagining Philanthropy,” is available on the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)’ website! We are honored that GEO has offered to give it a home beyond the life of the Foundation. The report is a final offering from Hazen and our #nonprofit partners to #philanthropy. In it, grantees offer recommendations that will help our peers and partners to develop partnerships that advance a more effective and sustainable movement for social justice: “It helps to know what their constraints are—it humanizes them. When funders are open about their work, their approach to funding, and what they are up against, then we can come to a place of mutual understanding,” recommends Cathy Dang-Santa Anna, national co-director of Grassroots Asians Rising. The Foundation also shares some of the lessons we’ve learned throughout our five-year spend down, through a strategy defined by grantee input and collaboration. We know many of our peers in the field have long been working to implement strategies and practices that develop authentic relationships with nonprofit leaders and that center justice. We hope this report adds to your work and is a catalyst for pushing us all to go further in the pursuit of a just society. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/g6C9V69Y #ReimaginingPhilanthropy

Leading Forward Steering Committee member Lori Bezahler and her colleagues at Edward W. Hazen Foundation have just published their final report, which compiles a plethora of insightful reflections and 🚀actionable recommendations from their years of funding #socialjustice #nonprofits. "We hope this report is a catalyst for creating a future for philanthropy where its value is based not on its exorbitant wealth, but rather on its fierce advocacy for and commitment to equity and justice." 📥 Download the Report 📚TODAY: Reevaluating Practice: Reimagining Philanthropy

An article published in Axios on April 2nd by Felix Salmon highlighted collective giving as the fastest-growing form of philanthropy in America. Collective giving in the form of giving circles, shared community funds and pooled grant making are shaking up traditional philanthropy and offering a glimpse into the future of a more inclusive and democratic philanthropic sector. Collective giving is taking the fundraising and philanthropic community by storm! Movements are gaining traction, and new research already shows the value of this collaborative and trust-based approach. Key takeaways from a 2023 report published by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy that analyzed the landscape of collective giving in the US: 📌 Collective giving is a catalyst for social cohesion and change! 📌 Giving tends to support small, community organizations. This funding is often locally concentrated.  📌Rather than being focused on metrics, groups practicing collective giving tend to be more motivated by inclusion and cultivating equity. #nonprofit #philanthropy #grantmaking #community #axios https://lnkd.in/ge7A2riu

This is groundbreaking for solving poverty in America. My colleagues are working with hundreds of nonprofits to change how they measure impact. (And they need to – a recent survey found that less than 2% of nonprofits are actually making a real difference.)   Rather than measure outputs like meals served or beds filled, they’re asking the people they serve on a scale of 1-10 if the program has empowered them / have they transformed their life / has their well-being increased / would they refer others to this program. In other words, they’re treating people in poverty as CUSTOMERS, which is why they call it “customer first measurement.”   Check out this video we made which shows one of their first experiments partnering with a United Way chapter. The results have been transformative.   Imagine if the entire nonprofit sector shifted in this direction over the next five years! Keep up the great work Evan Feinberg, Sara Peters,Todd Rose and the Stand Together Foundation team!

💡 What resonates with you when philanthropists say "community"? Thrilled to share this brilliant article in Inside Philanthropy by Sillerman Center staff Brian Stanley and Sheryl Seller about the role and importance of community in philanthropy! Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eYQkMmbT

🫶🏽The Heartbeat of Society: Why Nonprofits are Indispensable ⭐️In a world that often prioritizes profit, nonprofit organizations remain the unsung heroes, tirelessly working to bridge gaps, uplift communities, and drive social change. They are the change agents that transform compassion into action, addressing critical issues from education and health to social justice and the environment. 🌍Nonprofits embody the collective conscience of society, often operating on the front lines to bring hope where it's needed most. By fostering volunteerism and philanthropy, they not only solve pressing problems but also knit the fabric of community tighter. 🧭As we navigate the complexities of today's world, let's remember and support these pillars of societal well-being. Our engagement, whether through time, expertise, or funding, amplifies their impact. Together, we can create waves of positive change that echo into the future. 🎉Let's celebrate and support the vital work of nonprofit organizations. Share your experiences and let's discuss how we can contribute to their invaluable mission. #Nonprofits #SocialImpact #CommunitySupport #ChangeMakers #Philanthropy

📣 Big news in the collaborative giving movement this week! 📣 At Grapevine, we have seen the growth of Giving Circles and expansion of who is getting involved first hand over the past five years. So over the past year, we've worked with players across the movement to inform a brand new U.S. Collective Giving Landscape Research report. And this week it got released! And what did we learn? 🔥 "Giving Circles are the fastest-growing form of philanthropy right now." 🔥 Today, there are roughly 4,000 groups, 370,000 engaged members and $3B in funds that have been moved to nonprofits as a result. 📌 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gnah4aJX 📌 Article in Axios: https://lnkd.in/eu4YsqcH 🔎 If you're not in a Giving Circle yet — what are you waiting for? Find a group today: https://lnkd.in/dbfnAGn #GivingCircles #Fundraising #Philanthropy

A Report That Could Affect You On November 28, the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) released its second annual report on MacKenzie Scott's philanthropic giving. This publication could be a landmark because it provides new, compelling evidence that large, unrestricted grants lead to overwhelmingly positive outcomes. Many of us can benefit if we join forces and create a buzz that inspires more funders to give large amounts of unrestricted funding. If your organization is chosen, it will elevate your work significantly, allow time and space for innovation, and alleviate burnout among your staff. So, let's create an all-for-one, one-for-all spirit by joining forces to disseminate this report far and wide. Let's bear in mind that we can achieve the ambitious goal of mobilizing 75 people to share this report on LinkedIn and elsewhere if we can inspire sufficient support. Please join us by sharing this potentially groundbreaking report on LinkedIn and your other social media channels. Thank you! You can find the report at https://cep.org/ #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitorganizations #mackenzie #philanthropy Center for Effective Philanthropy Catalyst 2030 Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) Cath Dovey Mandy Van Deven Sara Lomelin Brendon “Brendoni” Johnson 🕺🏻Faith Mitchell Cecilia Ramos (Ella - She/Her)

This is such an important read for our philanthropic funding partners. The finding that surprised me the least was that NPOs invested in building their capacity - staff and systems. It’s very difficult to find funding for these things. Something that I wasn’t expecting, however, was that NPOs invested in their partners’ capacities to better serve a mutual community issue. If that’s not collaboration, I don’t know what is! #nonprofitsuccess #philanthropymatters #capacitybuilding