B5: Trust-Based Philanthropy in Action: Shifting From Donor-Centric to Mission-Focused

The pandemic initiated a reckoning in philanthropy, revealing the urgency for more equitable nonprofit investment strategies. Trust-based philanthropy, an approach prioritizing trust, collaboration, and minimal restrictions, took off as a buzzword in 2020, but has retained staying power as a new paradigm to build organizational capacity and shift the power dynamics between grantmakers and grant recipients.

For some funders, this was straightforward: restricted funds were converted to general operating support, lengthy applications were streamlined into accessible forms with brief reports, and check-in calls or visits replaced traditional interim submissions. Others have taken smaller but significant steps, like eliminating duplicative information or accepting another funder’s materials.  Similarly, many nonprofits began advocating for better approaches to grantmaking that build relationships and support communities with more meaningful methods.

This session’s focus will be on practical and purposeful steps that take your organization closer to a trust-based philanthropy paradigm. Whether you are a grantmaker or grant recipient, we’ll guide you on effective strategies that center trust, diminish unequal power dynamics, and empower nonprofits, grantmakers, and any changemakers to lead with trust and the impact of their work. Learn how to build a trust-based philanthropy culture in your work, and shift from a donor-centric model to practices centered on your mission and community.

Learning Objectives

• After attending this session, audience members will have a practical understanding of trust-based philanthropy tactics and how to deploy TBP in a nonprofit-focused manner that achieves measurable impact.

Presenter

Sarah Angello
Head of Strategic Partnerships
Resilia

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