Grassroots Grantmaking and Building Inclusion and Equity Lisa Duran Executive Director, Grassroots Grantmakers Presentation For Colorado Funders for Inclusion and Equity April 16, 2015

Mission:  To strengthen and connect funders and stakeholders that strengthen and connect everyday people where they live Strategic Goals:  To lift up resident voices within the practice of philanthropy, and  To shape grassroots funder practices to be more inclusive of and responsive to residents and their needs in all aspects of their philanthropy

We:  Work from a Social Justice Values lens  Share & promote dialogue, learning, practice and tools about the role of the grassroots in philanthropy  Are guided by practitioners with history at the grassroots and in philanthropy  Recognize the importance of respectful relationships in structural and institutional change  Work in partnership to strengthen grassroots grantmaking practice in specific organizations and across the field

Introductions  Who are you and where are you in the work of grantmaking/philanthropy?  How do you feel about the role of residents in your work? Is it relevant? Not? Why?  What are you most curious about within this topic?

What is a grassroots group?  They arise from people’s shared experience and the recognition of the need to work together for change – can be single issue or multiple issues.  They are quintessentially local, based on relationships through specific connections to a block, neighborhood, local institution or rural area.  They have members – either implicitly or explicitly defined, and they are immediately and directly responsive to their members’ needs and wishes.  The major part of the work is done by (not for) the people directly affected by the issues, usually with little or no paid staff, often without much specialized expertise, and usually without big budgets or other large resource reservoirs.  They range in size from 2 members to hundreds of members and they can be temporary, transient or on-going.

What is Grassroots Grantmaking? Think Layers, Not Ladders The strategy of grassroots grantmaking is built on the ENGAGEMENT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS

What is layering strategy? Grassroots grantmaking occurs in three areas:  Stimulating and supporting active residents  Building community capacity and voice  Supporting citizen-centered change

More institutional commitment and resources required FOCUSTOOLS Citizen-centered change  Bringing shared vision to policy-level discussions  Building political will and muscle  Co-creating a shared vision and an action agenda  Commitment to strategic change  Community organizing for change  Partnerships and collaborations  Critical analysis to develop strategic outlook  Build key relationships  Management & leadership development  Small grants  Tailored capacity building  Convening  Recognition/celebration Community capacity, resident voice  Strengthening internal and external connections  Building organizational strength and resiliency  Identifying and nurturing community leaders  Critical analysis to develop strategic outlook  Build key relationships  Management & Leadership development  Small grants  Tailored capacity building  Convening  Recognition/celebration Citizen action, relationship  Strengthening social capital  Supporting citizen-initiated action  Encouraging people-powered projects  Provide co-learning framework  Small project-oriented grants that involve residents  Technical assistance  Convening  Recognition/celebration

The Connection Between grgm and Inclusion and Equity: NOT ABOUT US WITHOUT US

High Quality Engagement: What to Do, What to Avoid

Shifts in Perception and Practice that Could Help in Effective Grantmaking

What all this means to each of us as a Human Being Creating the kind of transformation we seek requires us to actually inhabit space differently

Practice is a daily activity Love With Power: Practicing Transformation for Social Justice Movement Strategy Center 2015