Forest for the Trees: Collective Accountability and Trust as Groundwork for Systems Change
Overview, Culture, Practices, Structure, Leadership, Partner Resource Trust-Based Philanthropy Project Overview, Culture, Practices, Structure, Leadership, Partner Resource Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

Forest for the Trees: Collective Accountability and Trust as Groundwork for Systems Change

In this Foundation Review article, Shaady Salehi and Pia Infante unpack the meaning of accountability in a trust-based philanthropy context: relational accountability—through reciprocity and trust in the funder-grantee relationship—as well as collective accountability to the communities being served.

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Trust in Action: The Bridge Between Grantmakers and the Grassroots
Partner Resource, Overview, Culture, Being Transparent Trust-Based Philanthropy Project Partner Resource, Overview, Culture, Being Transparent Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

Trust in Action: The Bridge Between Grantmakers and the Grassroots

This guide highlights the challenges faced by community-based organizations and their priorities for change in philanthropy and global development. It examines how funders can strengthen trust, flexibility, and partnership in funding to nourish community-led change.

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Trust-Based Philanthropy Explained (for Giving Circles)
Partner Resource, Overview, Culture, Being Transparent Trust-Based Philanthropy Project Partner Resource, Overview, Culture, Being Transparent Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

Trust-Based Philanthropy Explained (for Giving Circles)

This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of trust-based philanthropy as it applies specifically to giving circles. Included in the guide, you can find a list of frequently asked questions, outlines of concrete steps you can take, and a list of additional resources

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210 Goodbyes: Lessons From Ending Grantee Relationships
Partner Resource, Culture, Structure, Practices, Soliciting Feedback Trust-Based Philanthropy Project Partner Resource, Culture, Structure, Practices, Soliciting Feedback Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

210 Goodbyes: Lessons From Ending Grantee Relationships

This resource from the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation provides guidance and practical steps for how to navigate the ending of a grantmaking relationship in a way that maintains your grantee partner’s needs in mind.

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IVAR: Unrestricted Funding in Practice Series
Partner Resource, Being Transparent, Multiyear Unrestricted Funding, Practices Trust-Based Philanthropy Project Partner Resource, Being Transparent, Multiyear Unrestricted Funding, Practices Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

IVAR: Unrestricted Funding in Practice Series

These resources from UK-based IVAR provide case examples from funders who have implemented unrestricted funding practices in their organizations. Each case example provides an exploration of the impact shifting to unrestricted funding has made in their organizations, input from their grantee partners, and advice to other funders.

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Enabling Trust-Based Practices: 4 Tips for Grants Management Systems
Partner Resource, Simplify & Streamline, Structure Trust-Based Philanthropy Project Partner Resource, Simplify & Streamline, Structure Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

Enabling Trust-Based Practices: 4 Tips for Grants Management Systems

This guide provides specific suggestions for a key element of trust-based structures: The grants management system. It is designed to provide a set of concrete features, integrations, and accessibility standards that you can use to advance your trust-based operations.

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“Trust-Based Philanthropy” and the Foundation Board
Partner Resource, Structure, Simplify & Streamline, Multiyear Unrestricted Trust-Based Philanthropy Project Partner Resource, Structure, Simplify & Streamline, Multiyear Unrestricted Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

“Trust-Based Philanthropy” and the Foundation Board

This article from the March/April 2021 issue of Taxation of Exempts disentangles many of the long-held connections between restrictive funding practices and legal obligations, from due diligence to unrestricted funding and grant reporting.

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Guidelines for Interactions with Community-Based Organization Grantees and Their Communities

Guidelines for Interactions with Community-Based Organization Grantees and Their Communities

The Firelight Foundation developed this tool for funders who may ask, “What does a justice and solidarity approach look like in interacting with and supporting people and communities to address the issue(s) at hand?”

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IVAR Report: The Why and How of Unrestricted Funding

IVAR Report: The Why and How of Unrestricted Funding

Research from IVAR demonstrates that no matter your organization’s perceived limitations or hesitations—whether about compliance, efficiency, impact or risk—we can all go further in offering the resource nonprofits need most: unrestricted funding.

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Grantmaking with a Racial Justice Lens

Grantmaking with a Racial Justice Lens

The Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity created this guide to help foundation leaders understand what it means to move from racial equity to racial justice funding strategies.

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Deciding Together: Shifting Power & Resources Through Participatory Grantmaking

Deciding Together: Shifting Power & Resources Through Participatory Grantmaking

Created with input from a number of participatory grantmakers, this guide shares challenges, lessons learned, and best practices for engaging in inclusive grantmaking.

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Great Funder–Nonprofit Relationships Toolkit

Great Funder–Nonprofit Relationships Toolkit

This toolkit from Exponent Philanthropy is designed to help funders recognize the aspects of great relationships with their grantees, assess competencies, and consider ways to improve how to be in partnership.

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Relationships Matter: Program Officers, Grantees, and the Keys to Success

Relationships Matter: Program Officers, Grantees, and the Keys to Success

Research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) sheds light on what constitutes a strong funder–grantee relationship, what nonprofits say it takes for funders to foster such relationships, and the crucial role that program officers play in the equation.

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