At the Omaha Community Foundation, our participatory grantmaking journey started in 2007 when two local funders launched the African American Unity Fund with two primary objectives: to empower Omaha’s Black community to make investment decisions and to increase transparency in the philanthropic process.
The Futuro Latino Fund, our second participatory fund, launched the next year. As our experience in this work grew, we added additional funds, the LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund, the Neighborhood Grants Program, and the Refugee Community Grants Program. In total so far, these community-led funds have awarded $7.6 million in grants
Each fund is run by committees made up of residents who are directly connected to or identify with the populations the funds aim to support. The committees are responsible for setting and guiding direction, determining the process for grant selection, making funding decisions, and selecting additional committee members. Prospective committee members apply to serve through an open application process and are selected by the existing committee members.
Our foundation team provides administrative support to the funds and capacity-building and other support to the committees through workshops on such topics as accessibility, power-sharing, and grantmaking. We also offer support to grant applicants, providing feedback on their applications before and after making decisions, access to workshops, coaching from community members, and direct assistance from foundation staff. By doing so, we are helping to enhance the grantees’ capacity, and also, importantly, fostering transparency in the grantmaking process.
Each fund is run by committees made up of residents who are directly connected to or identify with the populations the funds aim to support.
We believe that these participatory efforts are beginning to shift the power dynamics in our philanthropy. By involving those most affected by funding decisions, we’re more confident that resources are being directed towards genuine community needs. And we see how centering community voices builds trust and transparency, and promotes equity. It also strengthens community bonds and enhances sustainability by empowering people to take ownership of projects that reflect their lived experiences. Ultimately, this approach is helping us create a more inclusive and impactful model of philanthropy.
We are the administrative bumpers
But the work is not without challenges. For one, it can be difficult to balance our role in guiding the committees without overstepping. We liken the dynamic we aim for to bumper bowling: we are the administrative bumpers, there only to ensure the work continues moving forward. We understand that any additional input from our team, even the smallest involvement, can influence the community committees’ conversations, dynamics, and decisions.
But as professionals deeply involved in philanthropy, it can be difficult at times to remain silent when we see what we perceive as struggle, indecision, or difficult discussions within the committees. And despite our commitment to empowering the committees and their members — acting only as the bumpers — we sometimes find ourselves inadvertently nudging the ball. In one instance, when a larger organization with grassroots efforts was up for funding, we provided context that some committee members interpreted as an opinion on the proposal. The proposal was ultimately funded, and while it’s unclear whether our input influenced the decision, the experience has made us more intentional about how we engage in grantmaking discussions.
Like many participatory efforts, ours are aimed at addressing power imbalances, yet we are aware that the process is still influenced by the philanthropic context. The Omaha Community Foundation is the entity with the money and the staff. We are mindful of this and practice care in how we facilitate the space for our participatory work, recognizing that true equity requires ongoing effort and vigilance.
A related challenge is helping committee members embrace their role as more than advisors or managers of the funds, but true owners of it. They set the program’s parameters, determine decision-making processes, and must reach consensus on investments among themselves. As we have described, our role is only to support and facilitate.
Beyond the community-led funds
Having community-led funds has benefited our work throughout the foundation. Information gleaned from the committees helps drive further investment, especially among organizations and initiatives that we might not otherwise know about. In one instance, the African American Unity Fund passed along a proposal for a field trip for students from a high school with a high immigrant and refugee population and lower socio-economic status to a mission-aligned donor who stepped in to fund the trip.
We also get a deeper understanding of how to use our overall grantmaking and strategy to better build on community assets. Discussions with committee members form the African American Unity Fund and the Futuro Latino Fund, for example, led the foundation to expand its definition of arts and culture — and how to support it — to include other forms of recreation, such as board games and adult reading programs. Other discussions have shed light on topics we are now better equipped to consider, such as employment barriers for new Americans and teaching non-Black foster parents how to care for Black hair textures.
One of the best lessons we’ve learned through the community-led funds is how joy flourishes in communities — a joy that can be overlooked in processes typically focused on addressing needs, gaps, or challenges. Whether it’s the Melanin Market celebrating Black makers, the H20 Collective supporting Latine artists, the River City Mixed Chorus uplifting queer voices, or Yates Illuminates providing a communal space for shared meals, many of the projects and proposals the funds support highlight the vibrancy of communities.
Our foundation’s journey in participatory grantmaking has been one of growth, learning, and commitment to creating a more equitable philanthropic landscape. While we face ongoing challenges in balancing our role in grantmaking and helping community members fully lean into theirs, we recognize the necessity —and joy! — of shifting power to build a stronger, more connected philanthropic ecosystem in partnership with the people and communities at the heart of our work.
Thoughts on Participatory Philanthropy from the Omaha Community Foundation
Decision-making that truly levels the playing field requires a genuine commitment to equity and inclusivity. Our sector is steeped in inequity and power imbalances, and while participatory grantmaking aims to mitigate these issues, the very nature of embedding this work within an established philanthropic structure influences its execution.
To create a truly level playing field in decision-making, several key elements are essential:
• Shared Power: Ensuring that community members and those directly impacted by funding decisions have real authority and influence over how funds are allocated. This involves not just token participation but meaningful involvement in all stages of the decision-making process.
• Capacity Building: Providing training, resources, and support to both committee members and applicants to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate their role in this work. This includes workshops, coaching, and ongoing mentorship.
• Transparency: Maintaining open and honest communication about how decisions are made, where funds come from, and how they are distributed. This helps build trust and accountability among all stakeholders.
• Inclusivity: Actively seeking and valuing diverse perspectives, especially those from historically marginalized groups. This means being intentional about who is at the table and ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.
• Flexibility: Being willing to adapt processes and structures based on feedback and the community’s evolving needs. This requires a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
About the authors:
Anne Meysenburg
