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Learning communities

Community-Driven Philanthropy

A network of GEO members who are deeply engaged in the work of connecting funders and the nonprofit communities we serve. The peer network uplifts community-driven grantmaking practices via peer networking, coaching, learning, and other activities.

About the Community

Participants surface 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: exploring avenues for advocating for a community-driven approach to philanthropy within their organizations and beyond.

Members of the CDP community are GEO members working in various roles in our organizations, from program and community engagement to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We are grantmaking professionals 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 think passionately about strengthening relationships and building trust between funders and nonprofit partners and communities.

Participants attend quarterly 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 equity. The network also hosts a Slack channel where participants share resources, successes, and challenges with colleagues. Other activities include networking opportunities at GEO events. 

If you are interested in joining the Community-Driven Philanthropy (CDP) peer network, please contact Allison Beck at beck@geofunders.org

Featured Events & News

New Member Orientation

Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…

  • Member Orientation

2025 Member Orientation

Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…

  • Member Orientation

2025 Member Orientation

Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…

  • Member Orientation

2025 Learning Conference

Save the Date for GEO’s 2025 Learning Conference, hosted in partnership with…

  • Conferences

2025 Member Orientation

Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…

  • Member Orientation

2025 Member Orientation

Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…

  • Member Orientation

Two Steps Forward

Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh reflects on how grantmakers can generate meaningful results in response…

  • Perspectives Piece

My Journey to GEO

Throughout my career, I have committed myself to service. First, as a…

  • Perspectives Piece

Perspective Matters

After three years of working to expand the bench of evaluators, the…

  • Perspectives Piece

Get on the Balcony

In September 2018, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations released "Get on the Balcony:…

  • Perspectives Piece

Cross-post: The Search

After the 2017 Unity Summit, AAPIP (Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy) invited…

  • Perspectives Piece

What we know for sure

Often unprecedented circumstances seem to necessitate bigger or radically different strategies. But…

  • Perspectives Piece

Focus and Hope

Now is the opportunity for foundations to gain a clarity that has…

  • Perspectives Piece

Embracing Discomfort

We need to face the structural and systemic causes of racial disparity…

  • Perspectives Piece

The CIA Made Me Do It

I recently ran across a historical document that surprisingly holds many parallels…

  • Perspectives Piece

Learn More

If you are interested in joining the Community-Driven Philanthropy (CDP) peer network, please contact Allison Beck at beck@geofunders.org