A new community-based framework assessing the impact of participatory grantmaking on philanthropy
Institutional foundations are influential, yet it can be difficult to understand how they operate. How do their staff members make decisions? What impact do these decisions have on nonprofits, civil society, and democracy more broadly? One practice that holds promise for demystifying this relationship is participatory grantmaking, whereby stakeholders and grantees participate in making decisions about grant dollars that were previously reserved for professional foundation staff.
The community-based case studies in Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy signal a cultural shift away from the power of elite institutions and their penchant for top-down decision-making. This book combines perspectives from academics and practitioners who address how participatory grantmaking relates to other features of contemporary giving, including trust-based philanthropy; giving circles; crowdfunding; conservative philanthropy; giving traditions in communities of color; and global giving.
Using in-depth case studies, quantitative research, and other evidence-based methods of exploration, Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy will be a strong resource for philanthropy practitioners not only at the community level but also at large institutional foundations as well as megadonors seeking to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into their decision-making practices.
Reviews
"This is an immensely useful and inspiring resource for those seeking to make philanthropy more equitable and inclusive. The editors have curated wide-ranging contributions that show how participatory grantmaking can center the love of humankind and kindle the spark of human generosity that ought to lie at the heart of philanthropy."—Beth Breeze, director, Centre for Philanthropy, University of Kent
"This volume provides a compelling, evidence-based perspective on participatory grantmaking that highlights long-standing and new practices across a variety of perspectives. It also poses thought-provoking questions about the future of participatory grantmaking. This is a must read for those interested in making philanthropy more democratic and community centered."—Julia L. Carboni, director, William D. Ruckelshaus Center
Contributors
Elizabeth Barajas-Roman, Stephanie Boddie, Jen Bokoff, Elizabeth Dale, Julia Dundorf, Emily Finchum-Mason, Laura Garcia, Michael Hartmann, Sarah Huang, Kelly Husted, Anne Katahira, Melanie Kawano-Chiu, Jasmine McGinnis Johnson, Megan Murphy Wolf, Karla Nicholson, Terry Odendahl, Tracy Rone, William Schambra, Leslie Silverman, Colton Strawser, David Suarez, Bart Westdijk
About the Author
Cynthia Gibson (PhD, social policy, Rutgers University) is a consultant who has worked with hundreds of philanthropic institutions and major nonprofits on strategic planning, program development, evaluation, and communications. Chris Cardona (PhD, political science, University of California, Berkeley) programs the philanthropy portfolio and serves on the BUILD team at the Ford Foundation in New York City. Jasmine McGinnis Johnson (PhD, public policy, Georgia Institute of Technology / Georgia State University) is an associate professor of public policy and public administration in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at George Washington University. David Suárez (PhD, Education, Stanford University) is an associate professor at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington.
