Trust-Based Blog
Reimagining philanthropy begins with learning out loud.
By sharing ideas, with curiosity and humility, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project blog features trust-based grantmakers who talk about their own lessons, questions, and aha-moments along their power-sharing journeys.
Thousand Currents' Proactive Approach to Shifting Power Dynamics
Thousand Currents’ funding model is inherently trust-based, with an approach rooted in trusting the expertise of the leaders in the communities they serve. Executive Director Solomé Lemma shares her thoughts about how trust-based philanthropy enables them to advance their goals for social transformation.
How Durfee's Commitment to Support Beyond the Check Is Paying Off
The Durfee Foundation’s approach is almost hard-wired to be trust-based. President Carrie Avery reflects that “the trust-based part comes into play because we trust (nonprofit) leaders to forge their own path and do what they need to get at the root of their questions.” Learn more about how Durfee supports grantee partners to think expansively about their work.
How General Service Foundation's Radical Shifts Are Sparking Greater Efficiency and Learning
When Dimple Abichandani stepped in as Executive Director of the General Service Foundation, she noticed a gap between the social justice foundation’s grantmaking processes and the type of relationship they had with their grantees. Soon after, she and the GSF staff started making changes to their practices in order to fully embody trust-based processes.
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation's Fresh Take on Paperwork Processes and Relationship-Building
Since 2016, Phil Li of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation has taken dramatic steps toward embodying trust-based philanthropy, including getting rid of lengthy reporting requirements and shifting toward multi-year unrestricted support.