Moving beyond Feedback: The Promise of Participatory Grantmaking (Summer 2019)

“Are listening and feedback enough to upend the deeply entrenched power imbalances that have been a hallmark of institutional philanthropy?,” asks philanthropic consultant Cynthia Gibson. While essential, they are just the first step toward what participatory grantmakers call “authentic” participation. This article describes what participatory philanthropy is, and why it’s important for funders to embrace participation as a larger powershifting ethos that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in both its process and outcomes. by Cynthia Gibson