Community Report

Private and public philanthropy (including government and quasi government) are viewed as powerful change agents that invest vast sums in top-down approaches to fund equity work that promote dominant group values, which are not necessarily aligned with community needs and priorities. Specifically, focus group participants noted that funders have vaguely defined concepts of equity, are biased towards short-term investments, adopt funding models that promote dependency on charitable institutions, and conflate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with authentic transformation of oppressed and marginalized communities. These practices frequently lead to the disproportionate funding of initiatives targeting crises that are currently being publicized in the media rather than long-term investment in creating lasting structural equity. As a result, much of the funded work often fails to address racism and eliminate health inequities.

Additionally, funders lack community-centered approaches, which is a prominent example of institutional practices that are counter to genuine equitable engagement with communities. Community defined needs for building equity are often co-opted by private and public philanthropy (including government and quasi government). Participants also believe that institutional practices are biased against funding smaller under-resourced CBOs and CBOs led by people of color. This practice results in the same community-based organizations repeatedly receiving the bulk of grant funded dollars.

Furthermore, funders often structure requests for applications that emphasize a deficit narrative requiring community organizations to justify need by focusing on what the community lacks, instead of highlighting community strengths and assets. Employing a community deficit model to support funding initiatives maintains unequal power relations, perpetuates community dependency on public and private philanthropy, and undermines the building of strong, resilient and self-sufficient communities.

To address these previously mentioned issues, funders need to partner with communities to create grant calls. In addition, focus group participants suggested that in collaboration with community, private and public philanthropy co-create metrics for success with community partners. Mutually agreed upon outcomes and definitions for what determines a successful project helps to create accountability measures for all partners.