Trust-Based Philanthropy Peer Learning Exchanges

The registration deadline for this has passed.

We're excited to announce the launch of two peer learning exchanges created by Philanthropy CA and the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project! Over the past two years, we've partnered to provide learning opportunities to the philanthropy community across California to support further adoption of trust-based approaches in grantmaking. We're excited to share the next iteration of those efforts.

One cohort will be focused on Executives (decision-makers, including trustees); the other will be focused on grantee engagement staff (those who interact with grantee partners, including grants managers and program officers). Each session will meet for 90 minutes monthly for six months, May-October 2022. The format of the sessions will provide some structure while allowing for emergence and connection. Each session will focus on a specific topic, sourced from our community (see below for a sampling of discussion topics), and will receive light pre-session materials to prompt reflection and discussion. Participants will be invited to share stories relating to the topics, where they have encountered challenges and successes, and how they continue to grow in relationship to the topic of focus. Beyond story sharing, there will be space for conversation, workshopping challenges, and relationship building, so that participants can share their own questions and receive support. All the while, we will be building a deepened community of trust-based practitioners across the state.

As the world is seemingly opening up, we are also considering at least one in-person gathering for these cohorts. As we continue in the coming months, we will make a decision about an in-person gathering. That said, the majority of the programming will occur online, via Zoom.

Discussion Topics:

Executives

• Internal culture-building (cultivating trust among staff and board, aligning organizational values to culture)
• Trustee and/or donor education (e.g., making the case, addressing misperceptions)
• Intersectionality of racial equity and trust-based philanthropy
• Leading staff and board through organizational change-How to understand, assess, and document impact

Grantee Engagement Staff

• Working through power dynamics between funder and grantee
• Nuances of grantee relationships (saying no, repairing challenged relationships, assessing needs)
• Applying a racial equity lens to grant systems, relationships, and decisions
• Preventing harm for BIPOC and frontline leaders
• How to capture and document impact when there is less formal reporting and paperwork

Registration Details

Fee to Participate 

• Members of NCG, SCG, and Catalyst: $200
• Non-member funders: $300

Who should participate

These learning exchanges are intended for California-based grantmaking practitioners who have a foundational understanding of trust-based philanthropy values and principles, who are working on implementing a trust-based approach at their foundation, and who would benefit from a peer community of support as they continue on this journey. For those newer to trust-based philanthropy, we encourage you to check out upcoming events and resources from the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project.

Session Dates:

To foster an environment for shared learning, vulnerability, and trust-building we require that registered participants be in attendance for all of the scheduled sessions. If you are unable to attend a session, please let us know in advance. We ask for your full presence and for you to come with an openness and willingness to learn and engage in discussion.

• Friday, July 15, 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 am 
• Friday, Aug 19, 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 am 
• Friday, Sept 16, 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 am
• Thursday, Oct 20, 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 am