Trust-based philanthropy is geared toward achieving results. However, as the movement continues to grow, many questions arise around how we define, categorize, and assess impact in a trust-based context. As many of the conventional ways of collecting and assessing data are shifting, and funders are streamlining reporting, one of the recurring questions is “how will I prove impact?” 

The answer to this question isn’t as simple as many may hope, especially since trust-based philanthropy encourages a learning stance over a proving stance. The good news is that there are a range of outcomes that are possible as a result of embracing a trust-based approach – for nonprofits, for foundations, and for communities and movements. When we embrace this nuanced understanding of the many variables that contribute to long-term social change, then it becomes much more intuitive to understand and assess impact with a trust-based lens. 

Join the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project in this peer-to-peer conversation where we will discuss how we’re framing the relationship between trust-based philanthropy and impact, and will make space for funders to reflect on how this applies to their work. This will be an interactive session that will include time for reflective breakout discussions among funder colleagues grappling with the complexities of this work, while aiming to fully embody the trust-based ethos that ultimately will lead to better relationships and greater impact.

Speakers

Brenda Solorzano, Chief Executive Officer, Headwaters Foundation

Yolanda Coentro, Executive Director, Institute for Nonprofit Practice