How Funders are Embracing Flexible and Responsive Grantmaking Models
To understand the growing shift toward flexible and responsive grantmaking, our friends at Giving Data invited six foundations to share how they define responsive grantmaking, what flexible funding models they’ve implemented, and how they are aligning their processes to better support grantees.
Long-Haul Grantmaking: How Many-Year Grants Can Transform Nonprofit Jobs and Amplify Impact
In this independent report by Fund the People, the Endeavor Fund serves as a mid-stream case study for how many-year grant commitments are key to building strong organizations with well-supported staff who can maximize impact on their communities.
Sewall Foundation’s Definition of Fiduciary Responsibility
A values-informed definition of “fiduciary responsibility” helped the Sewall Foundation’s board and staff align on their respective roles and guide their decision-making toward social impact.
Shifting Power: Trust-Based Decolonial Feminist Philanthropy for Change
To meaningfully address gender inequality and progress toward the UN’s SDGs, this paper explores how global health philanthropy can depart from its funder-driven model and move toward a vision where decolonial, feminist advocates drive long-term strategic thinking, intersectionality, trust-based funding, and community-led solutions.
From Concept to Movement: TBP Project’s 5-Year Impact Report
Our 5-year impact report details key aspects of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project’s evolution from an awareness and organizing campaign into a dynamic movement that has laid groundwork for profound culture change across the philanthropic sector.
Insights From Our 2024 Grantmaker Survey
Our analysis of how funders are understanding, operationalizing, and grappling with trust-based philanthropy, what changes they have made and sustained since 2020, and what obstacles they may be facing. Based on 2024 survey data from 573 grantmakers.
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.
“In the Right Hands” Documentary
Trees, Water & People, an environmental nonprofit based in Fort Collins, CO created “In the Right Hands”, a short film that explores the importance and impact of trust-based philanthropy.
A Celebration of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Movement: What We've Learned and Where We're Going
The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, in community with our network of ambassadors and advocates, gathered for a special virtual event celebrating our 5-year anniversary.
In this session, we reflected on highlights and lessons of our first five years, shared our thinking about our next chapter, and dreamed with you about the possibilities for a trust-based future.
Memphis Music Initiative "Of Dreams and Nightmares" Skit
This skit "Of Dreams and Nightmares" was created by the Memphis Music Initiative to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of the 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.
The Impact of Trust-Based Philanthropy
This guide gives an overview of the impact made possible when shifting to a trust-based approach, including impact on nonprofits, funders, communities, and the social sector. Trust-based funders are consistently seeing various opportunities for reflection, assessment, and positive outcomes–painting a bigger-picture of the positive impact on organizations and the social sector ecosphere.
The Future is Trust-Based
Chantias Ford, Director of Programs and Strategic Learning at the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, joins Monique Curry-Mims & Valerie Johnson on the Beyond Philanthropy Podcast to discuss the framework of Trust-Based Philanthropy, its critics, trust washing, and the future of trust in philanthropy.
Misperceptions About Trust-Based Philanthropy DEBUNKED
This guide outlines five common myths and misperceptions that come up in discussions about trust-based principles, and offers clear counterpoints in response.
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
Reimagining the Program Officer Role
This two-page guide, invites you to reimagine the program officer role in a radically different way - away from conventional norms of compliance and oversight, and towards trust-based norms of partnership, collaboration, and service.
TBP Glossary of Terms & Phrases
Look through this guide to find a compilation of the most commonly used terms and phrases used in the context of trust-based philanthropy and their definitions.
What is trust-based philanthropy?
New to trust-based philanthropy? This 3-minute video walks you through the core of the trust-based philanthropy approach.
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.
The Equitable Evaluation Framework (EEF)
This resource from the Equitable Evaluation Framework™ (EEF) provides guidance on how to align your purpose, practices, processes, and policies with your foundation’s stated values and intentions.