Giving Compass' Take:

• The Center for Popular Democracy has had a series of wins since it was founded in 2012. Being able to pivot with the moment was key to their success, and general operating support allowed them to be flexible. 

• Why aren't more grants for general operating support?

• Learn about the overhead myth.

Grantmaking in this new era calls for funders who trust their grantees with general operating support and who acknowledge and support leaders of color.

The Center for Popular Democracy (CPD)’s successes and structure present a testament to these two needs.

Founded in 2012, CPD has skyrocketed into a leading voice for equity, opportunity and a dynamic democracy with 50 affiliates whose work impacts people in 126 cities, 34 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Two-thirds of their affiliates are Black- or Latinx-led.

The organization’s minimum wage win in Minneapolis was a moment of celebration. It felt to the CPD network like the most important thing going on in the state of Minnesota at the time – until a police officer shot and killed Philando Castille.

Suddenly, in order to be responsive to the needs of that community, they had to pivot from the campaign to a crisis response. In perfect conditions that’s hard to do – a lack of general operating support made it even harder.

General operating support allows nonprofits to nimbly move from one issue to another. This is a critical step toward building power in disadvantaged communities.

If they were freed from project-specific grants, CPD and its affiliates could use their expertise to address issues when they arise instead of having to wait for the next fiscal year.

Read the full article about general operating support by Troy Price at National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.