Mission
GEO is a community of funders committed to transforming philanthropic culture and practice by connecting members to the resources and relationships needed to support thriving nonprofits and communities.
Vision
We envision courageous grantmakers working in service of nonprofits and communities to create a just, connected and inclusive society where all can thrive.
Over nearly three decades, GEO has grown into a powerful community of grantmakers who share knowledge and resources, forge strong connections, and inspire each other to transform philanthropy. Today, GEO is guided by a strategic direction that calls on us to center philanthropic practice on operationalizing racial equity.
We reclaim philanthropy as expressing love for all of humanity by building a culture that centers voices and experiences that have traditionally been exploited, invisibilized and othered. This reclamation of philanthropic culture is grounded in care, self-expression and celebration.
We see the construction of race as central to all social issues and actively strive for a just and equitable future. This work is intersectional, data-informed and measurable and compels us to consistently put our words into practice.
We honor each other by building relationships, learning in partnership and resisting individualism. Working in community reminds us that our ultimate success or failure is collective.
We seek to be in trusting relationships and know that accountability is necessary for us to get there. We commit to cultivating both by leveraging our power and reckoning with philanthropy’s historical roots and present reality so that together we can pursue connection and wholeness.
GEO’s diverse board and staff are leaders, partners and facilitators in the journey to transform philanthropy.
GEO offers a wealth of programs, initiatives and resources to support courageous grantmakers in their work to transform philanthropic culture and practice.
Adopted in 2024, the GEO strategic direction articulates our vision, mission, values and goals for transforming philanthropy and advancing racial equity.
GEO’s annual reports and other financial documents reveal our commitment to transparency and impact.