Achieving equity and social justice depends on people and groups connecting in authentic ways to operate through the silos that often divides us.

Yet philanthropy sometimes still feels like that helpful neighbor who is more curious than committed.

Well-meaning donors and funders expect their grantees to inform them about their progress, their failures and their results – in other words, to paint them a picture of their vulnerabilities – in order to prove that they can be trusted to accomplish the work they have been funded for.

Yet, we rarely expect funders to be as transparent about their vulnerabilities with grantees or impacted communities.

That is why NCRP’s Power Moves toolkit is finding success in helping philanthropy to look beyond its grantmaking and examine how it uses its inherent power in our society.

The collection of self-assessment questionnaires, discussion guides and other resources was developed to facilitate organizational learning so that funders are able to not just analyze how they are using their power, but also develop the roadmap they need to implement improvements that ensures their work centers equity and social justice.

Two news tools unveiled last month by NCRP partners in the sector only add to this effort.

The Philanthropy Initiative for Racial Equity (PRE)’s “Grantmaking with a Racial Justice Lens” is a valuable practical guide for funders seeking an in-depth understanding of the context around examining their power before using Power Moves.

The guide does a commendable job of walking funders through the variety of internal and external factors they need to address as they strive to make transformational systemic changes that center racial justice.

It also incorporates an insightful collection of the first-hand experiences of other funders who have addressed those factors in their organizations.

Read the full article about creating change through vulnerability by Eleni Refu at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.