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Community-Driven Philanthropy Peer Community

Community-Driven Philanthropy is a learning network of grantmakers committed to building intentional relationships with the communities and nonprofits they serve, where members share lessons learned on community-driven processes and trust-based partnerships through peer coaching, resource sharing and more.

About the Community

Participants surface opportunities and challenges connected to building trust with nonprofits and communities, examine the role of power, and engage in peer coaching and other activities. In addition to community-driven philanthropy, the group explores topics such as participatory grantmaking, trust-based philanthropy, and more. A key focus for the group is to look for ways to deepen existing community-driven practices, work through challenges within this work alongside peers, and to explore avenues for advocating for a community-driven approach to philanthropy within their organizations and beyond.

Community-Driven Philanthropy Peer Community participants surface opportunities and challenges related to community-driven grantmaking practice and culture. In addition to community-driven philanthropy, the group explores topics such as participatory grantmaking, trust-based philanthropy and more. The network engages in peer coaching and other activities while being grounded in the idea that grantmaking is most equitable and effective when it meaningfully engages and includes a broad and diverse set of voices — including nonprofits, communities and key partners. Philanthropic practice becomes truly transformative when we center the expertise of those closest to the challenges we aim to address.

  • Members of the CDP peer community are grantmakers working in various roles in organizations, from program and community engagement to diversity, equity and inclusion. Their role is uniquely situated to link between funders and the nonprofit communities we serve. 
  • We are grantmakers who want to think strategically and empathetically about how to transform network and community relationships for our organizations while analyzing power dynamics and centering racial equity. 
  • We are passionate about strengthening relationships and seek out innovative strategies to build trust between funders and nonprofit partners and communities. 
  • This peer community is open to grantmakers who are GEO members. 

Participants attend quarterly 60 to 75-minute peer community calls where we engage with colleagues, participate in peer coaching and learning, and discuss emergent topics in the sector related to community, power and partnership. The community also hosts a Google Group where participants share resources, successes and challenges with colleagues. Other activities include networking opportunities at GEO events such as conferences.

To join the Community-Driven Philanthropy Peer Community, please fill out this form. 

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