How Funders Can and Must Be Strategically Bold In The Face of Federal Failures
Progressive funders have not and are not funding as though the world as we know it depends on it. Now is the time to rethink this failing approach.
While the great dismantling of our federal government’s administrative bodies is underway and legislated funding continues to be frozen or cancelled, we’re here to remind you that we haven’t stopped working towards a more just world even as you may sit idle. Communities across LIFE’s solutionary network are continuing to defend the rights of food chain workers as peers have been targeted and detained by ICE. Our land stewards, seedkeepers and co-op food entrepreneurs are navigating the farming season with uncertainty about markets, as hundreds of millions of dollars in local food procurement contracts have been compromised. And though the unfettered disruption to our governing, judicial, and administrative infrastructure might feel paralyzing, this is not the time for philanthropy to be silent, stagnant, and actionless. Rather, it is a time for progressive philanthropy to be strategically bold in the face of federal failures.
We’ve seen countless statements pushing for philanthropy to act now. What has been clear, and heard far and wide, is the need for progressive philanthropy to act now, and double, triple their payout. To this, we say yes, do it now.
What has been less clear to many, is how philanthropic institutions should be moving additional resources in a way that is reflective of the urgent needs of frontline communities and builds the type of power to be impactful. So, we pulled together top line how-to's from grassroots leaders and frontline organizations.
1.Move funds strategically and build alignment with the frontline.
In some ways, this moment mirrors the onset of the pandemic with frozen markets, broken food chains, social unrest and rampant injustice. During that time, lack of relational infrastructure between funders and frontline communities resulted in the stagnant arrival of resources into the right hands. While we have worked diligently to build stronger alignment between the progressive funding field and grassroots movement leaders accountable to frontline communities, our work is far from complete and gaps still exist. However, moving funds strategically is still possible.
Funders must double down on trusted relationships with grassroots movement leaders, especially those upheld by leaders representing communities that are being unjustly targeted by the current administration's racist, sexist, and xenophobic agenda. Do this by leaning into grassroots community capital infrastructure and funds managed by frontline organizations and coalitions. These formations already have mutual aid networks established that also include robust resource sharing practices and an ability to remain agile and efficient in redistribution.
When possible, consider moving additional dollars through anchored local orgs that have relationships with entities your foundation may not consider due to business structure (501c3 or not). AND know that in true grassroots work at the local level these organizations are working with one another and looking out for each other, increasing dollar amounts to current grantees can support the mutual aid work as well.
IF you do not have preexisting partnerships with community controlled or movement led funding networks, then create room for new grantee partners that are community-led and shift resources to formations that center frontline leadership, shared power and decision making.
Remember, follow the frontline. Now is not the time to create your own independent strategy or double down on a past strategic decision that does not serve our collective efforts today. In fact, the silos and lack of interdependence across the funding sector (with one another as well as to community) in developing strategies is perhaps at fault for some of what we see today. There are many movement-led formations that can be a strategic base, for guiding you in this time. HEAL Food Alliance, National Black Food Justice Alliance, and Food Chain Workers Alliance are national grassroots alliances with a firm pulse on direct impacts to our food and agriculture landscape. RAFI is hosting strategic conversations on the federal funding landscape and LIFE is creating intentional space for alignment discourse between movement leaders and funders. Many of these formations are hyper engaged, so come ready to learn and act if you attend an in-person funder track event, webinar, or other movement led programming.
2. Fund as though the world as we know it depends on it.
For decades, progressive philanthropy has fallen short of achieving impactful change as goals for perpetual wealth accumulation seemingly outpace strategic spending agendas. While in a parallel funding sphere, conservative agendas seeking to roll back rights and freedoms for millions are able to take root with billions in support coupled with strategic spendouts that create unmatched leverage. Put simply, progressive funders have not and are not funding as though the world as we know it depends on it. Now is the time to rethink this failing approach. We're encouraged to see that some foundations have begun sharing commitments and intentions of increasing grantmaking from the legal mandate of 5% to ~6-10% to provide support. Here’s what is needed at this time and how.
In these times, we call on philanthropy to imagine the outcome of not appropriately responding to the critical inflection point we all find ourselves in today. Funders must move funds strategically and also increase annual grantmaking to a bare (for real, bare) minimum of 10% now, and make a plan to sustain these efforts for the next four years at least.
Do not limit this support exclusively for existing grantees (unless 100% of your grantee partners are already in community-controlled formations); instead, make strategic partnerships that can help in moving more assets to frontline solutions.
Increase grant size and mutil-year commitments for existing and new grantees AND decrease unnecessary reporting and arbitrary timeline requirements that may prevent groups from triaging resources as they plan for a foreseeable, uncertain future.
Unrestricted funding is a vital tool for remaining nimble and responsive now and for years to come. Ensure access to unrestricted funding to new and existing (offer converting) grantees.
Understand that the gold standard to sustain our fight toward a just future while protecting our progressive wins, is more partnerships with spendouts. For foundations, individual wealth donors, and DAFs spending out, ensure you are accountable to the frontline and moving in alignment. Justice Funders is running a strategic spend out series that’s a good start place.
3. And do this with boldness.
It is critical at this moment to redefine and relocate risk and acknowledge what is at stake. Today’s efforts to restructure government, freedoms, markets, and demographics, is the result of organized philanthropic pursuits united behind regressive ideology and a movement to counter the wins we have achieved for our food, environment, and greater society. To reject the call to boldly stand for all we have fought for, is to align with what we are up against. Much of what we have heard and seen is reflective of anticipatory obedience–funders asking grantee partners to remove language around DEI, or scrubbing their own websites. Rather than acting out of fear and shifting away from language concerning commitments to racial justice and equity, stand bold and be vocal about your commitments for racial justice and equity in our food system; interrogate how institutional power can be leveraged and wield it.
Join lawsuits that are defending our work; and put in place legal protections for organizations that are organizing together to push forward their own lawsuits.
We’ve heard far too many funders express a “wait and see” sentiment. Rather than wait to see what comes from the 100+ lawsuits and bills filed against the administration, be bold in continuing the commitment to move the resources now. Consider the urgency that is needed as frontline organizations enhance their digital and physical security.
Understand that the likelihood of targeting due to legal non-compliance is far higher than attacks crafted from an unconstitutional basis. This article on Nonprofit Legal Compliance in an Unfriendly Political Environment is a helpful tool for enabling us to remain actively bold together. Get your organization ready so we can fight together AND ensure access to compliance TA for grantee partners.
We know they are trying to divide us, so our assignment is to build tactically and relationally on deeper levels than before. Join efforts that enhance our ability to hold risk collectively and stand in our values. There are efforts such as the Freedom to Give sign on as well as the Meet Moment sign on that exercises our collective power to build a stronger defensive line through unified messaging and actions.
For farmers and land stewards, this is a critical time in the season to have promised and expected resources jeopardized. Grassroots, frontline organizations and businesses are the lifeline for thriving local economies. Communities are doing the work to transform our food system towards ecological restoration, community self-determination, and climate resilience, despite the continued direct attacks on their very existence. Now is the time for philanthropy to step to the plate and practice a new wave of collaboration that centers frontline leadership. We know that funders can and must be strategically bold in the face of federal failures. We’ve shared a start to how that may be possible. Now, it’s up to you to act. What side of history will you stand on?
Join efforts to cultivate solidarity and alignment with movement leaders in the food, land, and environment space.
Liberating Investment in the Food and Farm Ecosystem (LIFE) is anchored by HEAL Food Alliance, National Black Food Justice Alliance, RAFI, Castanea Fellows, Soul Fire Farm, Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust, Agri-Cultura Network, La Semilla, Operation Spring Plant, Minnow, and Manzanita Capital Collective