FIXME alt text

Centering Equity through Flexible, Reliable Funding

Flexible, reliable funding can create a generative ethos for nonprofits and grantmakers by re-imagining the balance of power and developing transformational, rather than transactional, partnerships between nonprofit organizations and grantmakers.

Event Details

Flexible, reliable funding can create a generative ethos for nonprofits and grantmakers by re-imagining the balance of power and developing transformational, rather than transactional, partnerships between nonprofit organizations and grantmakers.

While the benefits of flexible, reliable funding, such as general operating support and multiyear grants, are well documented, our latest publication seeks to reassert the value of such practices with an updated analysis and examples to illustrate how a commitment to flexible funding can support the sector to be more equitable. Accounting for equity, especially racial equity, is significant for our sector as the persistent gaps in wealth, income and opportunity that exist today continue compounding along racial lines and the disparities are most significant among people of color and Black-led organizations.

Join us to learn more about moving to action with GEO’s new publication, Centering Equity through Flexible, Reliable Funding, which delves into the history of philanthropy and explores ways to center equity through our funding practices.

Program Objectives

Participants will:

  • Explore principles for centering equity, specifically racial equity, in flexible, reliable funding practices (an approach to grantmaking that allocates unrestricted, multiyear funds to nonprofits and/or communities) 
  • Understand historical context of philanthropy and how to make the case for flexible, reliable funding and have the data, tools, and provocations to move toward an equity-centered approach
  • Hear from field leaders about their experience in embedding equity-centered principles within flexible, reliable funding practices and learn what steps you can take to center equity and trust in your efforts

Speakers

Shaady Salehi - Director, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

Shaady Salehi is a strategist, facilitator, and network builder who has dedicated nearly two decades to social impact work. She currently serves as the executive director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, a learning and advocacy initiative to make trust-based practices the norm in the philanthropic sector. Her work in the nonprofit sector has spanned many roles – from department head, to executive director, to board member – and her main body of work has centered on using film, media, and strategic communications to advance social change. Previously, Shaady was Managing Director of Distribution and Impact at ITVS, where she led a team to advance the reach and impact of documentaries on public television. Prior to ITVS, she was Executive Director of Active Voice, a pioneering organization that uses storytelling to catalyze social change. She holds an M.S. in Strategic Communications from Columbia University, and an M.A. in Anthropology from UC Davis.

Yolonda Lavender - Grant Program & Partnerships Director, The Ronda E. Stryker and William D. Johnston Foundation

Yolonda is a Kalamazoo native and serves as the Stryker Johnston Foundation’s Grant Program & Partnerships Director. Complimentary to her organizational role is her innovative thought leadership and community advocacy. Yolonda earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology with a focus in Nonprofit Leadership and a Masters in Public Administration from Western Michigan University. Reimagining philanthropy has been a focus for Yolonda educationally and professionally. She believes that to eliminate philanthropy’s inherent power dynamics, we have to name and claim the power in the room. As a change agent and thought leader, Yolonda embodies the principles of trust based grant making and works towards continuously improving the sector and beyond.

Start: Thursday, June 30, 2:00 PM Eastern

End: Thursday, June 30, 3:00 PM Eastern

GEO members can register for this webinar here.

GEO non-members can register for this webinar here.

Speakers

  • Shaady Salehi

    Director, Trust-based Philanthropy Project

  • Yolonda Lavender

    Grant Program & Partnerships Director, The Ronda E. Stryker and William D. Johnston Foundation

Back to top