Weekly Reads—August 28, 2025

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

“Unrestricted funding allows organizations to dream. To plan. To survive…If I have only program-specific funding, I can’t pivot when priorities change. Flexibility is survival.” [more]
April Bethea, Funders for LGBTQ Issues, for Candid

“Rather than enforcing a standardized reporting format, Grove has consistently invited grantee partners to choose the method that works best for them, whether a brief written update or a phone conversation. This approach reflects our belief that grantee partners’ relationships should be rooted in respect, responsiveness, and shared trust, particularly for partners engaged in high-stakes, frontline work.” [more]
Blanch Vance, Grove Foundation, for Blackbaud

“A funder’s testimony can be powerful: A funder can advocate for issues in ways that may be too risky for nonprofits. Transparency can build trust and create accountability. And, a funder’s testimony can demonstrate what’s possible, spurring innovation and shifts in practices.” [more]
Maggie McGoldrick for National Center for Family Philanthropy

“Organizations that have Black disability identity are [often] not large. They’re tiny organizations, and folks say it’s risky to fund something small. But [Black disabled-led organizations] have the expertise that we need.” [more]
Patrick Cokley, RWJF, for Disability & Philanthropy Forum