Community philanthropic organizations have historically been pivotal actors in bringing about lasting change, and today many are revisiting traditional funding models to ensure the same, reimagining philanthropy through the lens of co0mmunity. Last week, we attended the Convening on Community Philanthropy’s Opportunities to Build Inclusive Communities, presented by Justice Philanthropy Research Network and hosted at the NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. This research network includes faculty and students from five universities and their research has been funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. It was a great opportunity to hear from community leaders on how they were reimagining the roles of their community foundations in tackling systemic inequities.

The event featured Amy Daly-Donovan, Executive Director of the Community Foundation Opportunity Network; Felicia R. Beard, Associate Vice President of Racial Equity Initiatives at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo; Pamela Ross, Leader of Community Impact at the John R. Oishei Foundation and Cesar Aleman, Executive Vice President of Membership and Impact at UpTogether. The discussion was moderated by Jamie Levine Daniel, Henry & Marilyn Taub Foundation Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management and Public Service. The speakers highlighted different strategies that they had adopted over the decades to center the voice of their communities. Of the many insights shared at the event, we focus on three particularly compelling lessons below.

Lesson #1 for Reimagining Philanthropy Through the Lens of Community: Philanthropic Policies Should Be Empowering

The panelists found it imperative for the organizations to recognize the priorities and lived experiences of their communities. One of the most insightful discussions at the event was centered on direct cash assistance as a tool for systemic change. Cesare Aleman, Executive Vice President at UpTogether framed poverty as a policy failure. A lot of challenges such eviction, hunger, and lack of healthcare could be resolved if community members had the financial means to do so. Yet there is often hesitance to provide direct support.

As community foundations leaders, they advocated for it to be a practice of philanthropy to invest directly in community members. This would meet immediate needs as well as build the capacity for grassroots advocacy to address systemic issues. Real change only happens when those affected by inequities are empowered to lead toward justice.

Read the full article about reimagining philanthropy through the lens of community by Ayo Adeyeri and Iman Fathima at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.