Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit

Learn how to integrate participatory practices that share decision making, build trust, and shift power.
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Participatory Philanthropy: Discussions and Hot Topics

From Insights for Change, the latest news, case studies, and opinion pieces on participatory philanthropy and related topics. Use the ideas and inspiration found here to inform your work with the Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit.

Insights from “Responding to the Moment: Participatory Approaches in Philanthropy”
  • Fund for Shared Insight
Katy Love joins her Fund for Shared Insight colleague Jonathan Brack, Kolibri Foundation’s Eileen Farbman, and Brooklyn Org’s Sabrina Hargrave, on a Philanthropy New York webinar.
Grantmaking as Bumper Bowling: A Community Foundation’s Journey towards Shifting and Sharing Power
  • Omaha Community Foundation
two women preparing food in a commercial kitchen
Tensions in Funder Learning: Reflections on a Participatory Grantmaking Initiative
  • Fund for Shared Insight
Pacific Golden Plover (pluvialis fulva) standing on a volcanic rock near a young pine tree sapling. Nearby pond is in the background. In Hilo, Hawaii.
Listening, Responding, and Shifting Power
  • with Melinda Tuan
Listening, Responding and Shifting Power podcast
An Update for Our Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit
Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit graphic
Representing Brooklyn from the Ground Up
  • Brooklyn Org
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey (lower left), president and CEO of Brooklyn Org, participates in a Listening Tour session in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Org Listens Neighborhood to Neighborhood
Brooklyn Org Listens Neighborhood to Neighborhood Video
A New Tool for Advancing Participation in Philanthropy
Advancing Participation in Philanthropy Tool (APPT)
Listen, Learn, Act: One Funder’s Lessons from a Participatory Strategy Process
  • ACT for Alexandria
A strategy planning meeting at ACT for Alexandria.
Weaving Trust-Based Philanthropy into a Participatory Initiative
  • via The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Weaving Trust-Based Philanthropy into a Participatory Initiative
Evaluating What Matters: Capturing Meaningful Outcomes in Participatory Grantmaking Processes
  • ORS Impact
Evaluating What Matters: Capturing Meaningful Outcomes in Participatory Grantmaking Processes
What Impact Can Participatory Philanthropy Have? Ask the Participants
  • Fund for Shared Insight
What Impact Can Participatory Philanthropy Have? Ask the Participants
The Most Significant Changes Resulting from Fund for Shared Insight’s Participatory Climate Initiative 
  • ORS Impact
The Most Significant Changes Resulting from Fund for Shared Insight’s Participatory Climate Initiative
A Funder’s Reflections on a Participatory Philanthropy Initiative
  • John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Reflections on a Participatory Philanthropy Initiative
A Look at Shared Insight’s Participatory Philanthropy Project
“Can you see me?” asked Artis Romero Burney, a poet and community activist
A Funder Collaborative Shares Feedback Advice after Working with Grantees to Listen4Good
Volunteers in Medicine's Kelly Ranieli with a sign about the nonprofit's medical translation service.
Introducing a New Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit
Photo by Brandon Green on Unsplash
Learning to ‘Embrace the Beauty of What Exists’: A Conversation About Participatory Grantmaking
Image of tidepool
More than Money: Participatory Grantmaking and Perceptions of Power
  • ORS Impact
Participatory Grantmaking & Meditations on Power-ORS Impact
Some Lessons from Participatory Grantmaking and Meditations on Power for the Field
  • ORS Impact
ORS_Meditations on Power
Participatory Grantmaking & Meditations on Power
Participatory Grantmaking & Meditations on Power-ORS Impact
Participatory Grantmaking: Learnings and Reflections
Participatory Climate Initiative, Learnings and Reflections
The Nuts & Bolts of Participatory Design
The Nuts & Bolts of Participatory Design

Have questions about the toolkit? Or want to learn more?

Please reach out to our program manager Katy Love who co-authored the toolkit with Winifred Olliff, both consultants with experience and expertise in participatory grantmaking. 

Photo of Katy Love
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Our Appreciation

Fund for Shared Insight would like to express deep gratitude to all who participated in, supported, and contributed to our Participatory Climate Initiative, on which this toolkit is based.  We especially thank:

  • A-dae Briones
  • Austin Ahmasuk
  • Billy Kinney
  • Cynthia Naha
  • Donald Bogen
  • Elsie DuBray
  • Garett Blaize
  • Janiece Watts
  • Jayeesha Dutta
  • Reverend Leo Woodberry
  • Lindsay Louie
  • Rosalinda Guillen
  • Soledad Gaztambide Arandes
  • A-dae Briones
  • Annie Jane Cotten
  • Austin Ahmasuk
  • Billy Kinney
  • Cicely “CC” Moore
  • Crystal Yankawgé Nelson
  • Dewey Kk’ołeyo Hoffman
  • Donald Bogen
  • Fix Cain
  • Garett Blaize
  • Jayeesha Dutta
  • Katia R. Avilés Vázquez
  • Kilia Purdy-Avelino
  • Melinda Tuan
  • Miwa Tamanaha
  • Reverend Leo Woodberry
  • Aimalama
  • Bering Sea Elders Group
  • Chickaloon Native Village
  • Hui Maka’ainana o Makana
  • Inuit Circumpolar Council-Alaska
  • Kamiloloa One Ali’i Homestead Association
  • Kawerak
  • KUA
  • Laulima Kuha’O
  • Maui Nui Makai Network
  • Organized Village of Kake
  • Organized Village of Savoonga
  • Organized Village of Shaktoolik
  • Punana O Kaiona
  • Roots Program (Kōkua Kalihi Valley)
  • Tanana Chiefs Conference
  • Village of Port Heiden
  • Waimea Homestead
  • Alliance of Native Seedkeepers
  • Another Gulf is Possible/Otro Golfo es Posible
  • Colmena Cimarrona
  • Cosmic Poetry Sanctuary
  • Ekvn-Yefolecv
  • Hijra House
  • IDEBAJO
  • ISER Caribe
  • Living Hope Wheelchair Association
  • New Alpha CDC
  • North Carolina Climate Justice Collective
  • Nottoway Tribe of Virginia
  • Sejah Farm, St. Croix
  • SouthCentral Louisiana CDC
  • Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network (SAAFON)
  • Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards
  • Stay Together Appalachian Youth Project
  • Alaska Venture Fund
  • Another Gulf is Possible/Otro Golfo es Posible
  • Appalachian Community Fund
  • Climate Justice Alliance
  • Dogwood Alliance
  • Filantropía Puerto Rico
  • First Nations Development Institute
  • Foundation for Louisiana
  • Hawaii Community Foundation
  • Headwaters Foundation
  • Kua’aina Ulu ‘Auamo
  • Native Americans in Philanthropy
  • Quivira Coalition
  • Spruce Root

Anna Loizeaux, JPB Foundation
Ciciley “CC” Moore, WK Kellogg Foundation
Chris Cardona, Ford Foundation
Claire Poelking, MacArthur Foundation
Doua Thor, Sobrato Philanthropies
Genny Biggs, Moore Foundation
Jamaica Maxwell, Packard Foundation
Jennifer Chavez Rubio, Gates Foundation
Jennifer Ryan, Moore Foundation
Jessica Kiessel, Omidyar Network
Karla Ruiz, Sobrato Philanthropies
Kate Barnes, MacArthur Foundation
Linda Baker, Packard Foundation
Lindsay Louie, Hewlett Foundation
Rachel Huguet, Hilton Foundation
Shaheen Hasan, Target Foundation
Shaheen Kassim-Lakha, Hilton Foundation
Trevor Pollack, Barr Foundation

  • Anne Nsimbi
  • Debbie Blum
  • Gita Gulati-Partee
  • Jaqueline Hartley
  • Katy Love
  • Meenakshi Abbi
  • Melinda Tuan
  • Michelle Mengel
  • Rick Moyers
  • Sarah Stachowiak
  • Winifred Olliff
  • Annie Jane Cotten
  • Artis Burney
  • Braulio Quintero
  • Camille Hebert
  • Claire Poelking
  • Dale KK Browne
  • Elda Guadalupe Carrasquillo
  • Jayeesha Dutta
  • Jodi Lasseter
  • Kaiulani Odom
  • Karla Ruiz
  • Katia R. Avilés-Vázquez
  • Rev. Leo Woodberry
  • Liana Lopez
  • Loretta Slater
  • Marselle Alexander-Ozinskas
  • Osvaldo Capmany
  • Roberto Thomas
  • Rory Neuner
  • Sydney Underwood
  • Taysha DeVaughan
  • Whitney Jaye
  • Yvonne Belanger