Weekly Reads—May 19, 2025

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

“The fundamental question for democracy-minded donors isn’t ‘What will produce immediate victories?’ but rather ‘What foundations are we laying for a democratic system that can flourish across generations?’ This perspective reframes democracy funding as patient capital — investments that may not yield immediate, measurable returns but establish essential infrastructure for future democratic flourishing. It suggests moving beyond the boom-and-bust cycle of election-year giving toward sustained support for organizations building democratic capacity year-round.” [more]
Farai Chideya for The Center for Effective Philanthropy

“I think equity and justice start with who makes the decisions. And so if the people that we are granting to are included in the design of the grant, the grant structures and are part of the panel review process for making the decisions, then we start building something that actually does serve the community.” [more]
Eleanor Savage, The Jerome Foundation, for Submittable

“Nonprofits are not adversaries of the government, they are partners in service. This bill weakens that partnership and undermines the infrastructure of care that millions of Americans rely on, especially in rural and underserved areas. While we are pleased that members of Congress listened to their constituents on this harmful provision, this bill must undergo further revision.” [more]
Diane Yentel, National Council of Nonprofits

“Collectively, each story [in the report Power in Disability Solidarity] demonstrates that when we unite as a community in solidarity, we can effectively dismantle ableism and advance all social justice movements. We invite you to read these stories—featuring disabled leaders and nondisabled allies in the philanthropic sector—and consider how you can join us in practicing solidarity and working toward disability justice, rights, and inclusion.” [more]
Disability & Philanthropy Forum