Community Driven Philanthropy Peer Network

The Community-Driven Philanthropy (CDP) peer network is a community of GEO members who are closely engaged in the work of connecting funders and the non-profit communities we serve. Community-driven grantmaking practices are uplifted and used as a foundation for peer networking, coaching, and learning. This community offers space to be in relationship with ourselves and others in order to weave a connected foundation for a more unified, just, and equitable future.

Who is the Community-Driven Philanthropy Peer Network?

• These members think strategically and empathetically about how to transform network and community relationships and analyze power dynamics while centering racial equity.
• They think passionately about questions like:
  • How do we strengthen relationships and build trust between funders and non-profit partners and their communities?
  • How have power and equity historically impacted our work with communities and how do those entrenched dynamics continue to manifest?
  • How can we move towards a future where this work happens equitably and collaboratively?
  • How do we make sure our work to build trust is not extractive and laborious on the part of communities and nonprofits who participate?
• Members might work in a department such as Programs, Community Engagement, or Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

What are We Trying to Do Together in Community?

In this peer network, participants will have the opportunity to:

• surface challenges that relate to building (or re-building) trust, examine the role of power, and engage in avenues for peer coaching and exploration of future work;
• explore topics related to Community-Driven Philanthropy, Participatory Grantmaking, Strengthening Relationships and Trust-Based Philanthropy, among others;
• take part in networking opportunities for members who regularly engage in community building and trust-sustaining work; and
• explore what advocating for a community-driven approach to philanthropy could look like in practice with other funders committed to the same systemic change in the sector.
  

How Can You Participate?

• Join the “GEO | Community Driven Philanthropy Peer Network” Slack channel and share resources, successes, and challenges with colleagues
  
• Attend our quarterly community calls where you will engage with colleagues, participate in peer coaching and learning and discuss emergent topics in the sector around community, power & equity
• Engage with peers in the field and at GEO conferences

Questions?

Contact Allison Beck at beck@geofunders.org.