Political Education Is Essential for Real Change: Here's What Funders Must Know | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.

Transformative, decolonized philanthropy shifts funding from top-down models toward equitable, community-centered practices. Philanthropic organizations can share power authentically, center affected communities in decision-making, and build reciprocal relationships. Political education is presented as necessary to stop ineffective funding strategies that misdiagnose social challenges and fail to address root causes. A survey reports 93 percent of nonprofit leaders are dissatisfied with foundations’ responses, while over 90 percent of foundation leaders believe their responses are effective at understanding grantee challenges. Traditional philanthropy is described as historically removed from everyday issues and from the connections needed to solve problems. As democratic backsliding deepens, philanthropic leaders are urged to listen, build honest relationships, and develop genuine understanding to respond with courage and decisiveness.

"Many of our [funders] are removed from the lived experience of those who are suffering the greatest from these federal cuts that have happened."

"As our nation and the world deepen into democratic backsliding, philanthropic leaders must listen and establish real and honest relationships that build trust and create a genuine understanding of the issues facing our communities so that together, philanthropy and community can meet the current moment with courage and decisiveness."

Read at Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.