Lifting Restrictions

In the last few years, Borealis Philanthropy has taken on a number of practices in order to make our grantmaking processes more equitable: providing participation stipends for declined organizations, choosing grantees with the support of peer-led advisory groups, and replacing lengthy, often burdensome reports and proposals with interviews and brief surveys, to name a few. Whenever possible, we award general operating grants to allow our partners maximum flexibility in using them. Internally, we consistently interrogate our grantmaking practices to ensure we are not placing undue burdens on grant partners, that we’re being open to feedback, and that we’re responding rapidly to urgent needs in the field.

With the advent of COVID-19, many of the funds at Borealis decided to convert their existing project grants into operating grants. As grantmakers, we recognize that it’s our grant partners, not us, who are the experts running their organizations. We trust their vision and leadership, and we aim to earn their trust by working in service to them through our grantmaking processes and behaviors. Full equity in grantmaking and programs is a work in progress, but we are committed to reflecting, continually, on how we can better “walk the talk” regarding our values.