Weekly Reads—April 11, 2025

Enjoy PEAK’s weekly roundup of timely insights from the grantmaking community and beyond.

“[O]nly about one in 10 foundations share decision-making power with those most affected by their funding. Participatory grantmaking, where people working in the field are trusted to make funding decisions, is particularly useful for funding social movements and broadly deploying dollars—as is needed now.” [more]
David S. Beckman, Pisces Foundation, for Stanford Social Innovation Review

“One thing that we have not seen up until this point is coordinated action. And that’s something that we’re hearing from nonprofits that is really necessary and urgent. And also, it feels very markedly different from five years ago when philanthropy really had a much more coordinated response for the sector. [Our Commitment to Trust-Based Action] is an invitation to philanthropy to work together in support of our sector. And that really starts with supporting the work and the well-being of our nonprofit partners.” [more]
Shaady Salehi, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, for Fund the People

“[Nonprofits] are seeking greater certainty for their funding (whether from the government or from foundation funders and donors) and express a need for more flexible support and more communication from their funders. As one leader says, ‘Be bold and public in support of DEI and civic engagement. The most helpful funders are not just grantmakers—they are partners in social change, willing to stand with organizations like ours as we work to build resilient, engaged, and equitable communities in the face of political uncertainty.’” [more]
The Center for Effective Philanthropy

To help organizations navigate the challenges of this uncertain time, Independent Sector has launched three trackers that monitor legislation and litigation that could impact philanthropy. Updated on a biweekly basis, these resources monitor tax and federal legislation, federal- and state-level litigation, and executive actions. Visit Tracking the Policy Landscape for the Charitable Sector for more information.