Philanthropy California and the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project invite you to join us for a monthly webinar series for funders. Each month, we’ll explore each of the six trust-based principles that, when practiced together, help alleviate power imbalance in the sector. Each webinar will explore the nuts and bolts of putting the principles to practice, while offering opportunities for peer learning and reflection.
In the second of our seven-part series, we’ll explore doing the homework, which means it’s the funder’s responsibility to get to know prospective grantees, not the other way around. Why? Because in early vetting stages, nonprofits are often required to jump through many unnecessary hoops -- lengthy application processes, intensive submission requirements, or cumbersome online portals -- just to be considered for funding. How can funders streamline these processes by taking on the onus of due diligence and being more intentional about assessing alignment without wasting nonprofits’ time? What are some practical, realistic ways funders can legitimately “do the homework” in a way that is manageable while also paving the way for long-term trusting relationships with grantees? And how can funders be intentional about looking beyond their usual circles to identify organizations that may be overlooked due to implicit bias?
In this webinar, we’ll hear from foundation leaders as they discuss the nuts and bolts of doing the homework, how they are responding to questions and concerns related to this practice, what they’re learning along the way, and some strategies you may consider to make shifts in your portfolio toward more intentionally doing the homework.
Speakers:
- Pia Infante, Co-Executive Director, The Whitman Institute
- Carrie Avery, President, Durfee Foundation
- Brenda Solorzano, CEO, Headwaters Foundation
- Shaady Salehi, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project