Demystifying Trust-Based Philanthropy Session 3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?

Series Description

The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project is pleased to announce a six-part webinar series addressing common questions, clarifying misconceptions, and exploring ways to overcome obstacles in implementing trust-based philanthropy.

Trust-based philanthropy is a philosophy and approach rooted in values of relationship-building, mutual learning, and systemic equity – with a vision of advancing a healthier and more impactful nonprofit sector. While this approach is generally associated with six core grantmaking practices such as multi-year unrestricted funding and streamlined paperwork, the day-to-day work of trust-based philanthropy is very nuanced and dynamic. In fact, funders who have embraced this approach are finding that it requires ongoing self-reflection and rigor with regards to how they think about – and evolve – many of the deeply embedded practices and assumptions of traditional philanthropy.

Given these nuances, it is not surprising that there are many questions and occasional misperceptions about what it actually means to embody trust-based philanthropy in practice. In this 6-part webinar series, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project will explore some of the most commonly asked questions and the underlying misperceptions that may be roadblocks to understanding and operationalizing trust-based philanthropy.

Each session in the series will focus on a frequently asked question from the field, and will feature perspectives from foundation leaders and others who have grappled with similar or related questions. At the end of each session, participants will walk away with: 1) a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the underlying cultural philosophy of trust-based philanthropy; 2) tips for how to think about and approach these nuances in their own work; and 3) talking points for how to answer these FAQs when they come up from colleagues or peers. Each session will also provide dedicated space for small-group peer dialogue about ways to implement these practices into your grantmaking.

Who should attend: Anyone in a grantmaking role that is curious about understanding the nuances of trust-based philanthropy and how it applies to your work. This series will be ideal for those who have some baseline familiarity with trust-based philanthropy and have questions about how it manifests in practice.

Session 3: Description

How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?

There is a misperception that there is little due diligence conducted in trust-based philanthropy. A trust-based due diligence process does exist – and it encourages funders to reframe how they characterize and react to “risk”— moving from scrutinizing organizations’ budgets and governance, towards a deeper assessment of values-alignment and ways to support organizations’ capacity for impact.

In this session, we will explore the notion of risk – and how to reframe our understanding and analysis of risk to consider the reciprocal nature of the funder-grantee relationship. We’ll hear from funders who have implemented trust-based values and practices in their due diligence process, and have identified ways to bridge the gap between donor/board desires and grantee needs. Participants will gain knowledge around how to assess and respond to potential “risk” with a trust-based lens.

To learn more about the other sessions in this series, click the links below. 

• Session 1: Does Trust-Based Philanthropy Mean Unconditional Trust? 
• Session 2: Does Unrestricted Funding Automatically Make a Funder Trust-Based?
• Session 4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
• Session 5: What Does Evaluation Look Like in a Trust-Based Context?
• Session 6: What Does Trust-Based Philanthropy Have to Do With Racial Equity?