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2026 Community-Driven Philanthropy Remote Learning Series

The Community-Driven Philanthropy Remote Learning Series is a five-week opportunity where participants will have the opportunity to explore the practices that matter most to nonprofits through a combination of in-depth learning, practical examples, and thought-provoking discussions with the GEO community.

Registration closes on February 13, 2026 at 5:00 pm ET.

Registered participants will receive pre-reading materials and login information one week prior to the series start.

Sessions will be held for five weeks, every Wednesday from 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET beginning March 11, 2026 (no session on April 1).

On February 11, 2026, we invite you to join us for an informational session to learn more about the series. We’ll provide an overview of the series’ goals, structure and expectations, and provide time for Q&A so that you can decide if this series is a good fit for you. Learn more here.

At the heart of our mission and vision is the idea that our grantmaking practices must be community-driven and equity-centered to truly transform our philanthropic culture and practice.

The concept of community-driven philanthropy explores how the participation of nonprofits and communities in philanthropic processes leads to better practices, more authentic discussions, and improved outcomes for everyone involved. Community refers to those who may benefit from or are impacted by grantmakers’ decisions. Spring 2026 will mark our sixth cohort to discuss community-driven philanthropy, exploring what it looks like in practice and how we can embody this equity-centered approach in our grantmaking.

Learning Objectives for this series:

  • Build capacity for having difficult conversations around the historically rooted relationship between philanthropy and community distrust.
  • Understand the conditions necessary to build and sustain trust with community members and the need for building the capacity for long-term social change.
  • Map current and plan future community-driven actions by starting to analyze the role of power and trust and using the Community and Nonprofit Participation Spectrum*.
  • Analyze various toolboxes in the sector, including the Fund for Shared Insight Listening & Feedback Funder Action Menu, NCRP Power Moves and the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, and Feedback Lab’s High-Quality Feedback Loop, to enhance future community-driven philanthropy efforts.
  • Lean into current diagnoses, analyses and interpretations of our roles and the sector of philanthropy; and envision a future of community-driven integration and systems change.
  • Connect and build relationships with other GEO members who can be a resource and support in implementing community-driven philanthropy in their work.

  • Session 1: Wednesday, March 11 – 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET
  • Session 2: Wednesday, March 18 – 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET
  • Session 3: Wednesday, March 25 – 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET
  • Session 4: Wednesday, April 8 – 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET
  • Session 5: Wednesday, April 15 –  2:00 – 4:00 pm ET

GEO members: $650

Nonmembers: $1,000

All registrations are non-refundable. No requests for refunds will be granted for missed sessions. Participants may choose to transfer their registration to a colleague or peer with the same membership level.

GEO Remote Learning Series are open to current GEO members; all staff and trustees of grantmaking institutions; staff of philanthropy-supporting infrastructure groups, such as regional associations of grantmakers and affinity groups; and staff of academic institutions and programs focused primarily on the study of philanthropy and the practice of giving.

We encourage organizations to have multiple individuals at their organization participate in order to apply your learning together. A 10% discount is available when three or more individuals from the same organization participate. Email Joyce (mcdonough@geofunders.org) for the discount code.

If you are not a GEO member, please visit our membership page or email our Membership team at membership@geofunders.org.

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