Resources for Funders
We have identified longer-term learning opportunities and pathways to deepen the philanthropic praxis of partners in the field, including learning and giving circles, because in our experience, sustained participation is key to political development and relationship building. Additionally, all of the groups and practice spaces listed below integrate a race, class, and power analysis to their work and are working toward wealth redistribution. Here are some values-aligned spaces and the partners’ programs we recommend for ongoing learning:
Thousand Currents develop programs and activities to educate and influence donors and philanthropic institutions to shift their behavior and practices towards solidarity-based philanthropy. Their flag-ship program, the Academy for Solidarity as Practice, is a week-long experiential training for social change agents who want to mobilize resources and support grassroots solutions. They also offer the Academy for Collaborative Philanthropic Leadership, a two-year fellowship that engages those in executive-level leadership and decision-making roles in philanthropy in the Global North.
Thousand Currents is offering a specialized Academy starting in April 2022 to create a learning space to engage with some of the most pressing issues and questions as we all consider how to best support climate solutions. They also offer giving circles and other opportunities to mobilize resources to grassroots social movements through their African diaspora program and Buen Vivir Fund. Please reach out to Rajiv Khanna for more information on the Academy and future programming.
Justice Funders offers a number of programs including the Harmony and Maestra programs, the new Just Transition Investment Community, as well as webinars and various learning series. The Harmony program is specifically tailored for program and grant support staff working to shift the grantmaking process towards regenerative practices. The Maestra program is rooted in the Resonance Framework and specifically tailored for executives, board members, and donors. The Just Transition Investment Community is a learning and action community for staff and trustees of philanthropic institutions to align their investment practices with the values and principles of Just Transition. JF also hosts occasional webinars and other learning series that might be helpful in supporting folks in developing some base level of framing. Please reach out to Maria Nakae for more information on Justice Funder’s programming.
Solidaire Giving and Learning Circles
Solidaire offers a number of programs, including learning series and giving circles. Becoming a member of a Solidaire is a great way to learn about their work and programming as well as to learn from peer donors and funders. Solidaire is currently hosting a number of learning series in partnership with other funders, including Kataly, focused on topics such as climate justice and black liberation.
Solidaire is developing some member-driven, small group praxis programming, which will offer donors an ongoing opportunity to go deep on a specific topic and their work over time with a set of peers. Please reach out to Eugenia Lee for more information on membership, upcoming programs and praxis circles.
Resource Generation(RG) organizes young people with wealth and class privilege in the U.S. – defined as 18-35 year olds in the top 10% of the U.S. economy – to become transformative leaders working toward the equitable distribution of wealth, land, and power. You can read more about RG’s programs, including conferences, praxis groups, webinars, and local chapters, here.
RG also offers virtual praxis groups for young people with access to wealth. This will be an intimate, 10-month program in which you will develop a long-term giving plan, develop a network of peers with similar levels of assets, explore different giving models and deepen your skills and capacity to implement a social justice strategy in your giving. Participants will learn how to support and engage Resource Generations’s national campaign partners, The Movement for Black Lives and the Center for Popular Democracy in addition to getting support to build relationships with local organizations. Please reach out to for more information on upcoming praxis offerings.
Foundational Resources for Learning
In addition to the learning cohorts and praxis spaces above, we have developed a set of foundational resources to support peers in deepening their analysis and approach to their philanthropic work. These resources may be helpful for individual learning or facilitating dialogue across your staff and board: