Weekly Reads—June 23, 2025

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

“The findings [from a Democracy Fund survey] suggest that BIPOC-led philanthropy understands the key issues facing grantees and is addressing both urgent and long-term needs through strategic investments in movement building, organizing, contingency planning, security, and legal support. BIPOC-led philanthropy is stepping up. But building a more diverse, resilient, and sustainable pro-democracy field—and through that field, a stronger American democracy—will require more donors and grantmakers of all backgrounds to step forward.” [more]
Lauren Hill, Democracy Fund, for Candid

“This is not a time for anticipatory obedience or passive adaptation. It is past time for funders who care about racial and gender justice to step up and invest in Black feminist movements with the urgency and abundance required, funding expansively and beyond the limiting binaries that feel comfortable and safe. This means resourcing creatively and in a plethora of ways, including investing in narrative and base building strategies, land back campaigns, and capital costs.” [more]
Vanessa Thomas, Black Feminist Fund, for The Center for Effective Philanthropy

“To rebuild trust and relevance, philanthropy must use clear language that’s rooted in reality, not abstract frameworks. That doesn’t mean abandoning rigor but pairing evidence with empathy and strategy with storytelling. … If we want people to trust philanthropy, we need to stop hiding behind language that makes sense only to us. Because right now, the way we talk about our work matters just as much as the work itself.” [more]
Matt Watkins, Watkins Public Affairs, for the Chronicle of Philanthropy

“[F]undraisers must meet younger donors where they are, on social platforms, through personalized engagement, and with messaging that connects cause to impact. As Dr. [Una] Osili wisely notes, Millennials and Gen Z are redefining philanthropy with a broader, more inclusive lens. The future of giving is not just about writing a check; it’s about building a movement. And for today’s fundraisers, adapting to this mindset is not optional, it’s essential.” [more]
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, The First Day Podcast