What do grantees really need from funders – and what does it look like when funders actually listen? This candid, grantee-led AMA invites funders to ask honest questions and hear directly from nonprofit leaders about the practices that build trust, support well-being, and strengthen impact – and the habits and systems that undermine it.

Alongside unfiltered grantee perspectives, Margulf Foundation will briefly share concrete examples of how we’ve operationalized grantee voice into practice and process shifts – including flexible and innovative funding, streamlined reporting, wellness supports, and intentional relationship-building.

Participants will leave with candor, clarity, and practical tools: what grantees wish funders knew, real stories of partnerships that worked (and didn’t), and actionable strategies any funder can use – at any size or stage – to build stronger, more equitable partnerships grounded in trust and shared purpose.

Participants will:

• Hear directly from grantees about funder practices that build or damage trust and partnership.
• Learn how one foundation translates grantee feedback into operational and process shifts.
• Reflect on their grantmaking practices and how existing systems support or create barriers to grantee impact.
• Identify mechanisms to embed grantee feedback and learning into operations and decision-making.
• Commit to one tangible change to advance relationship-centered, equitable grantmaking

In 2025, the Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) piloted a first-of-its-kind Collaborative Grantmaking Portfolio designed to resource disability justice leadership and expand cross-movement organizing capacity. Through a fully accessible, relational, and participatory process, DIF invited grantees to shape how funding decisions were made. Nearly 50 letters of interest were submitted; 22 collaborative interviews were conducted with cross-movement groups; and ultimately, 13 multi-year collaborative projects were awarded, spanning language justice initiatives, arts and culture, reproductive justice storytelling, and immigrant justice.

This session will offer a deep dive into how DIF designed and implemented a collaborative grantmaking model that centers disability justice principles from inception to grant award, including lessons on accessible process design, intersectional leadership, and trust-based decision-making. Through conversation with DIF staff and grantee partners, participants will unpack what it looks like to operationalize equity and accessibility at every stage of grantmaking.

Attendees will leave with tangible tools and frameworks to embed accessibility into their own processes, strategies to structure collaborative grantmaking within and beyond traditional 501(c)(3) constraints, and a renewed understanding of how disability justice practices strengthen grantmaking institutions and movements alike.

This session is designed to be interactive and reflective. Participants will engage in small group discussions, hear from movement leaders, and identify concrete steps to adapt these practices within their own institutions.

Participants will:

• Understand how to integrate accessibility and disability justice principles throughout the grantmaking cycle.
• Learn strategies for structuring collaborative grantmaking models.
• Explore how trust-based, participatory design shifts power to communities.
• Identify concrete actions to implement similar approaches within their institutions.

Participatory Grantmaking (PGM) is not just a box to tick—it’s a transformative approach that redefines how power is shared in philanthropy. When done meaningfully, PGM fosters genuine collaboration between grantmakers and grantees, and ensures that communities most affected by funding decisions are actively involved in shaping the solutions that impact their lives.

This interactive session will offer a deep dive into FGHR’s approach to PGM, sharing practical tools and lessons learned. Participants will have the opportunity to explore how they can integrate participatory practices into their own work, and experiment with some of the facilitation tools FGHR has developed to support inclusive decision-making.

At FGHR, we’ve embedded this decolonial practice into the heart of our work. By intentionally addressing the power imbalances between donors and grantees, we’ve created a model where communities are engaged at every stage of the grantmaking process—from setting program strategy through a participatory steering committee, to co-designing initiatives, selecting grants through inclusive review panels, and engaging in shared learning.

We propose to share with PEAK participants how – together with grantees – we identify challenges, co-create solutions, and manage risks in ways that are transparent, inclusive, and effective.

Attendees will be able to:

• Define PGM and articulate its core principles and its role in shifting power and promoting equity
• Distinguish between tokenistic involvement and meaningful participation and identify ways to involve affected populations in grantmaking decisions
• Explore strategies for embedding risk management into participatory processes
• Apply insights and tools from FGHR’s PGM practice to their own organizational or regional contexts
• Identify obstacles to implementing PGM and generate solutions to overcome them

This session will review how changing times, shifting ecosystems, and an evolving understanding of philanthropy are encouraging funders to review their applications and decision-making frameworks. Finding a balance between knowing enough about an organization and reducing the burden on potential grantees can be a challenge. The goal is to gather information that addresses the factors most important to you as a funder and do so in a way that builds relationships rather than checks the boxes. Material you collect should actually be used to make decisions. And you should ensure that what you ask actually addresses critical attributes you seek in a potential grantee. Explore guidelines and filters through which you can assess the questions you’re asking, how those questions are asked, and in what format. Review how to examine components of your process, including site visits and decision-making conversations, to ensure that grantees are engaged equitably and respectfully.

Using real world examples and a case study presented by a funder, you will have the opportunity to discover how you might respond to specific situations that require a strategic rethinking of your process, questions, or both.

Attendees will:

• Understand and appreciate the role of questions in the grantmaking process
• Identify ways to review and adjust questions based on specific factors
• Encourage routine reflection at their organization, making sure questions are supporting the decision-making process and doing so equitably
• Explore real-world examples of questions from actual grant applications including a case study from a grantmaker who routinely examines its applications and questions

Discover how dynamic Google Sheets can bring participatory grantmaking to life. This session explores how the Kenneth Rainin Foundation uses interactive, real-time spreadsheets to support panels of community experts in reviewing and recommending grants for our Arts and Education programs. Designed to make complex information accessible and actionable, these tools turn data into a foundation for collaboration and transparency. With features for scenario planning, auto-calculations, and live updates, the spreadsheets help panelists and staff focus on shared learning, meaningful discussion, and informed decisions that reflect the values of equity and community. Attendees will come away with ideas for using everyday tools to enhance participation, deepen trust, and strengthen equitable practices in grantmaking.

Attendees will:

• leave with a new understanding of how a familiar (and free!) tool, Google Sheets, can be leveraged to support participatory grantmaking and equity centered decision making
• understand how formulas, scripts, and real time updates can turn spreadsheets into living tools for collaboration and transparency
• gain ideas for using data creatively to make panel discussions more informed, efficient, and community driven

AI is no longer on the horizon, it is already shaping how proposals are written, reviewed, and scored. The question is not if your organization will use AI, but when. And when that happens, how do we make sure our values still lead the way?

This session offers a grounded, non-technical exploration of AI that helps grantmakers stay human-centered in an increasingly automated world. We’ll start by unpacking what AI actually does, how it learns from historical data, recognizes patterns, and why that makes bias not just possible, but inevitable. We’ll then explore the new frontier of AI-generated proposals and the challenge of finding authentic mission alignment when language itself can be machine-made.

Through a hands-on workshop, participants will explore human-centered design approaches for keeping context, conscience, and community voice at the center of decision-making. You will leave with clarity, vocabulary, and readiness to lead your organization into the age of intelligent systems without losing the wisdom that makes our work human.

Attendees will leave knowing:

• what AI is and how it learns, in clear and accessible language
• how AI’s pattern-based learning naturally amplifies existing inequities
• risks and opportunities related to AI-generated proposals and automated scoring
• human-centered design strategy and approaches to ensure equity, values, and real human presence remain central as AI use expands

Most small-to-midsize foundations know they need better data visualization tools for board reporting and stakeholder engagement, but lack the budget for enterprise software or technical staff. This hands-on workshop teaches a practical three-step workflow using accessible AI tools: ChatGPT for brainstorming data stories, Claude for refining strategy, and Lovable (vibe coding) for building interactive dashboards. Drawing from real examples across board governance, team collaboration, and community engagement, participants will learn when and how to use each tool strategically rather than treating AI as one monolithic solution. We’ll address practical considerations including data security, ethical AI use, and organizational capacity constraints while participants work through the complete workflow with their own board reporting challenges. Attendees will leave with a working prototype they built during the session and a replicable framework they can use immediately back at their foundations. This is peer-to-peer learning from a grants management practitioner who recently completed structured training in AI workflows and now applies these tools across multiple nonprofit boards.

By the end of this session, participants will:

• Understand how to use ChatGPT, Claude, and Lovable strategically as distinct steps in a workflow
• Create an interactive dashboard using the three-tool process
• Evaluate ethical considerations and security concerns when implementing AI tools
• Apply this replicable framework to their own board reporting and stakeholder engagement needs

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in philanthropy—it bridges data with meaning, turning impact reports into narratives that inspire trust, empathy, and action. This session explores how both grantmakers and grantseekers can use storytelling to create deeper emotional connections and stronger partnerships.

We’ll draw inspiration from an unexpected source: children’s storytelling. By observing how children express themselves through narrative, we can rediscover the essential elements of storytelling that move hearts and minds: simplicity, emotion, imagination, and truth. Organizations like Story Pirates Changemakers (www.storypirates.org) show us the purest form of creativity and authenticity—children instinctively use stories to connect, ideate, and persuade without overcomplicating the message. In their earliest writing, they use their creativity, varying formats, and personification with little concern for form and function, which often creates the most compelling of narratives. Story Pirates also model meaningful feedback based on encouragement and kindness, which breaks down barriers and spurs connection.

Why It Matters: Philanthropy thrives on connection. Data may validate success, but stories inspire commitment. By learning from the building blocks of children’s storytelling, positive reinforcement, and flexibility in narrative, we can strengthen the bond between stakeholders and grantmakers, making philanthropy not just transactional but transformational.

Attendees will:

• APPLY a new framework to transform data into compelling narratives
• IDENTIFY core emotional elements in stories to build stronger, trust-based connections with philanthropic partners
• CONSTRUCT clear, authentic, and persuasive communication using a sample data set
• COMMUNICATE with candor and encouragement to enhance relationships and break down power dynamics
• EVALUATE how technology can be used to capture qualitative impact and streamline reporting in an equitable way

In many institutions, risk management begins and ends with compliance checklists. At the Fund for Global Human Rights (FGHR), the Grantmaking Operations (GMO) team has transformed risk into an engine for learning, collaboration, and confident decision-making.

As a global intermediary funding partners in 65+ countries through U.S. and U.K. entities, FGHR must navigate complex regulatory and contextual challenges. Rather than treating risk as something to eliminate, the GMO team approaches risk as insight, using it to pause, analyze, and work jointly with programs and partners to identify effective paths forward.

Through concrete examples from international grantmaking, presenters will illustrate how operational teams can make risk conversations transparent, equitable, and adaptive. Participants will leave with realistic practices on how to document judgment, balance donor requirements with partner realities, and turn difficult moments into shared learning.

This session reframes risk management as a learning culture rather than a compliance task. We’ll highlight how FGHR’s approach moves from “checking boxes” to shared, adaptive decision-making that helps the organization act confidently in uncertain contexts.

Attendees will:

• Distinguish between risk management and risk aversion in philanthropy.
• Apply practical methods to embed contextual, adaptive risk awareness across teams.
• Build habits that normalize transparency, shared judgment, and learning

In these tumultuous times, grantee partners are facing unprecedented challenges and threats to their work. While grant funding is essential, grantee partners need additional wrap-around support to develop operational capacity, avoid staff burn-out, and effectively create change in this moment. A relational, trust-based approach is key to developing responsive grantmaking and supporting grantees to be the most effective change-makers This panel will dive into strategies that support grantee partners and the issues they work on beyond just cutting a check, such as grantee convenings, capacity-building support, access to media and PR expertise, and holistic security. Hear from Proteus Fund program officers and grants management staff on the tactics they have employed to support their grantees, their learnings, and how to operationalize these tactics as a part of a robust funding strategy.

Participants will gain the following from attending the session:

• A greater understanding of ways beyond traditional grantmaking to support the field and grantees;
• Knowledge on how to operationalize these strategies and implement them as a part of a funding strategy; and
• An understanding of how beyond-the-grant support can benefit grantees, the field, and foundation staff.

In times of profound uncertainty and accelerating change, philanthropic leaders are called not only to think differently but also to be differently. Traditional leadership approaches—anchored primarily in intellect and analysis—are no longer sufficient. To guide our organizations, partners, and communities toward equity and impact, we must cultivate embodied practices that expand resilience, sharpen focus, and unleash creativity.

“Breath, Balance, and Boldness: Embodied Leadership Practices for Philanthropy” invites participants into an interactive exploration of how somatic tools—breathwork, mindfulness, and gentle movement—can ground us in presence, open pathways to innovation, and build the courage to lead with heart. Designed for both seasoned executives and emerging leaders, this session provides a practical toolkit for navigating stress, sustaining energy, and fostering authentic connection across teams and communities.

Unlike many leadership frameworks that remain abstract, this session is experiential. Participants will leave not only with insight but also with tangible practices they can integrate into their daily routines and organizational life. By bridging inner capacity with outer action, we will explore how philanthropy’s leaders can model a new way of being—one that is sustainable, inclusive, and deeply human.

Attendees will:

• gain practical breathwork and mindfulness techniques to manage stress and cultivate presence
• explore how embodied practices foster balance and resilience in their leadership
• build the courage to engage in bold, equity-centered decision-making
• leave with concrete tools to apply daily, enhancing both personal wellbeing and professional impact

To increase our impact on the communities we serve, we must first do our own individual work. As grant professionals, we regularly ask grantees to evaluate their progress, reflect on their mission, and plan strategically for the future—yet how often do we apply these same critical practices to our own careers and lives? This interactive workshop brings that tried-and-true method of reflection and visioning directly to you, creating space to get rooted in your purpose and intentionally design your year ahead. Through guided exercises, peer connection, and tangible planning tools, participants will reflect on their journey, celebrate moments of alignment, dream about what’s possible, and commit to their next courageous step.

Through hands-on reflection and visioning, you’ll align your strengths, purpose, and deepest desires with the work you’ll be doing in the coming year. This intentional alignment radically shifts your energy, satisfaction, and impact—ultimately increasing your capacity to support effective, equitable grantmaking practices that serve your communities with greater clarity and purpose. When we remember we have choice and practice courageous self-reflection, we elevate not only how we show up in our work, but the transformational change we can create together.

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Shift out of reactive mode and assess their current career fulfillment—identifying joys, challenges, and growth areas from the past year.
• Celebrate personal strengths and accomplishments.
• Apply reflection and strategic planning tools to design a purpose-aligned vision for the coming year.
• Commit to one concrete first step and establish peer accountability to sustain their vision.

In seasons of change, it is easy to feel pulled in a dozen directions. This 75-minute interactive session invites participants to reconnect with the internal signals that guide meaningful professional growth.

Drawing from Radical Spark Coaching’s head, heart, and gut framework, participants will explore how to make aligned decisions, clarify intentions, and take ownership of their development using the WHO method of career growth. Together, we will practice staying grounded and focused on our “hula hoop” of control so that growth feels purposeful rather than reactive.

Participants will leave with a clear framework and practical tools to support their next step with confidence and clarity.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify how head, heart, and gut modalities influence professional decision making
• Practice techniques for tuning into internal signals to set aligned intentions
• Apply the WHO method to clarify ownership of their career direction
• Distinguish between what is within their control and what is not during times of change
• Develop one concrete next step aligned with their values and growth goals