By Monique Curry-Mims and Valerie Johnson
In this episode, Monique and Valerie sit down with Vu Le, Creator of NonprofitAF and one of the Founders of Community Centric Fundraising, to discuss how nonprofits leaders need to grab a folding chair and organize to save our communities and how funders need to shift practices to do the same.
While experiencing the grant world as both a grant writer and a grantor, I got to see the possibilities along with the difficulties of providing an equitable and fair opportunity. And an opportunity to create a process for providing organizations with the support they need to continue the positive change they are making in their communities.
I want to acknowledge that fear is not always the reason for resistance.But for the times when fear is the reason for resistance, I want to help fellow changemakers understand how fear happens in the workplace, the reasoning behind those manifestations, and strategies to navigate and overcome it.
In my pursuit of contributing to more equitable grantmaking practices, it became apparent that my initial honeymoon period, which boasted an abundance mindset and work-life balance, was really the cuffing of philanthropy’s golden handcuffs.
Simple surveys can’t quantify the experiences of BIPOC individuals, nor can an A/B test describe the impact of a message or mission. It is time to embrace experiential knowledge, and that must start today.
When these alliances are deeply rooted in community needs and guided by transformative leadership, they have the potential to bring about significant transformational change in marginalized BIPOC communities. However, not all partnerships are created equal…
…it became evident to me that exploring fundraising in the African context through the lens of ethnicity, social class, and cultural dynamics offers a more nuanced understanding of how fundraising efforts are influenced and propelled within communities. These factors intersect and intertwine to shape social relationships, trust, and social capital, ultimately impacting the success and sustainability of fundraising initiatives.
Charitable giving potential is often measured by individual tax returns, and gifts sent to registered charitable organizations. However, people who don’t claim tax credits are still generous. Consider donors who give to crowdsourcing platforms which cannot be claimed by income tax. Or donors who give to people or organizations that are not linked to registered charities. Or what about those who donate their time through volunteerism?
As childhood spaces of curiosity shifted into workplace dynamics of expectation, the effects grew from passing discomforts to full-blown mental health impacts. Adult spaces brought the same challenges to assimilation but with much greater consequences.
Even if you are a low-level employee, you don’t have to just sit by—and you definitely don’t have to hide your nonprofit’s sins… Grant writers have the power to center those injustices and keep our nonprofit’s attention on them until it’s easier to deal with them than look away.
By Michelle Shireen Muri and Fleur Larsen
Scatting doesn’t do anything for the problem you are trying to solve, and it shuts down the real conversation. It focuses on defense of the individual or obfuscation of the mistake. It shows a fear of imperfection and is highly self-centered (or organization-centered).
Supporting marginalized communities when it’s easy and lucrative to do so isn’t being a true accomplice. When it’s hard to do, and you still do it, you show your accomplice chops… Here are some (non-prescriptive and non-exhaustive) ideas for what your organization should be pushing for before it starts draping itself in the rainbow flag…