Are You Listening? How To Become A More Responsive, Effective, and Equitable Grantmaker

Foundations are most effective -- and can make the most difference in the world -- when their decisions are informed by the insights of the people and communities most harmed by the systems and structures philanthropy is seeking to change. This session will provide leaders with a framework to think in a systematic way about how they can take up listening practices that center the experiences and voices of the people and communities at the heart of our work.

In this virtual session, participants will learn about emerging tools and resources to help them reflect on how they listen, how their foundation can meaningfully respond to community in their work, and how they can shift and share power with people with lived expertise in their foundation strategy and grantmaking. Through a dynamic mix of presentation, individual reflection time, and interactive small groups, participants will identify strategies and recommend next steps to bring listening, responding, and shifting power to life in their own foundations.

This program has developed into a two-part program. Part Two, scheduled for Thursday, June 20th, will focus on participatory approaches in philanthropy. Event registration will open in the coming days.

What will I learn?

• Promising practices and framework for practicing equity-centered listening on a personal and organizational basis
• New tools and resources to support funders to center community in their work, and shift and share power with community and individuals with lived expertise
• Real-life examples of funder listening practices that center the experiences and voices of the people and communities at the heart of our work

Facilitators

• Jonathan Brack, Program Manager, Fund for Shared Insight
• Melinda Tuan, Managing Director, Fund for Shared Insight

Who should attend?

All interested funders, regardless of roles, including CEOs and Senior Leadership; Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning teams; Grantmaking team members; Program teams; and Strategy teams. What to expect: presentation followed by breakout discussions and practice.

Co-Sponsors