Many leaders working on the front lines of efforts to secure a thriving future for marginalized communities see first-hand the disconnect between grantmakers’ desire to help these causes and how these funders effectively (or ineffectively) leverage their power.
In “Wielding Power with Community: Creating pathways for change and transformation,” Linda S. Campbell, director of Detroit People’s Platform and founding member of Building Movement Project, writes about the need to reconfigure the relationships between those who hold power over communities and the people most impacted by how those in control utilize their power.
“Public officials, grantmakers, and others in power may tap constituents for their ‘input’ at a neighborhood charrette or community meeting, but they often ultimately ignore community ideas and insights. As a result, many communities have plenty of experience with people in power telling them what is really good for them, rather than being able to speak for themselves and act on their own behalf.”
– Linda S. Campbell
Detroit People’s Platform and Building Movement Project
Wielding Power with Community: Creating pathways for change and transformation
SSIR Blog
“Wielding Power with Community: Creating pathways for change and transformation” is part of the new Power in Philanthropy series on the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) blog in collaboration with NCRP. Contributors from NCRP and nonprofit and philanthropic leaders explore popular concepts in philanthropy – such as risk, capacity building and public leadership – through the lens of power and equitable outcomes.
Power in Philanthropy is based on NCRP’s “Power Moves: Your essential philanthropy assessment guide for equity and justice.”
Related articles:
Power, Privilege, and Effectiveness: Are Funders Connecting the Dots?
by Kathleen Enright, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
The Power of Families: From Poverty to Agency to Unity
by Luz Vega-Marquis, Marguerite Casey Foundation
Philanthropy’s Ultimate Power-Sharing Opportunity: Governance
by Jim Canales and Barbara Hostetter, Barr Foundation
Philanthropic Leadership Means Following the Frontlines
by Alison Corwin, Surdna Foundation
Wielding Philanthropic Leadership With, Not For
by Grant Oliphant, The Heinz Endowments
Family foundations benefit from diverse boards
by Ruth Cummings and Sharon Alpert, Nathan Cummings Foundation
How can grantmakers be accountable when they have little oversight?
by Judy Belk, The California Wellness Foundation
Don’t miss the last post in this series by NCRP’s own Lisa Ranghelli.
Visit Power in Philanthropy on SSIR
Or stay tuned on NCRP’s blog for links
to the latest articles in the series.
Yna C. Moore is senior director of communications of NCRP. Follow @ynamoore and @ncrp on Twitter. Join the conversation on #PowerMovesEquity.
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