How Can Your Philanthropy Bring Together Strategy and Justice for Greater Impact and a Better World?

We as a field have become and are encouraged to become increasingly “strategic” in our efforts. There is literature on the subject; we hold conferences and conference sessions on it. But, for all this strategy, are we more effective as a result? I would say not as much as we could be.

In recent years, philanthropy has adopted much of the type of strategic philanthropy described by Paul Brest and Hal Harvey. Although the shift toward strategic philanthropy has improved effectiveness, it has done so at a cost: There is significantly less attention paid to transformative change by prioritizing and including underserved communities and support of community organizing—approaches long understood by social justice philanthropists. Indeed, most of the major social movements of our time can be traced to grassroots movements and the tactics of advocacy and organizing.

In NCRP’s new report, “Real Results: Why Strategic Philanthropy is Social Justice Philanthropy,” Niki Jagpal and Kevin Laskowski explain why, at their best, strategic philanthropy and social justice philanthropy are, in fact, the same.

To conclude the report, Niki and Kevin present these questions grantmakers can ask about the role of social justice in their strategic efforts:  

1. What is your vision of success? What is your strategy?
2. What are some of the barriers to making progress on issues of concern to you? How is your philanthropy working to address those challenges?
3. Who benefits from your philanthropy? What proportion of your philanthropy benefits underserved communities, e.g., economically disadvantaged persons, racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, single parents, offenders and ex-offenders, and LGBTQ communities? Are you comfortable with this level of funding for vulnerable populations?
4. How do you ensure that your philanthropy reaches those who might benefit most from it?
5. What role does public policy play in your theory of change that informs your grantmaking strategy? What are some of the barriers to funding public policy and advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement at your foundation? How might greater public policy engagement among the nonprofits you fund advance your mission and complement your current efforts?
6. What proportion of your grant dollars influences public policy relevant to your issue focus? How much of your grantmaking supports advocacy, organizing, or civic engagement on behalf of those who are the least well off politically, economically, and socially? Are you comfortable with how much of your portfolio is dedicated to social justice work?
7. How does the foundation evaluate the impact of its grantmaking? How does this learning influence your theory of change, your strategy and grantmaking decisions?
8. How are grantees and the communities they serve involved in your foundation’s learning process? How do they inform decision making? Are you providing grantees with sufficient general operating and multiyear support?

I encourage you to read Real Results and to take these questions into consideration as you develop your grantmaking strategy with grantees and others.

Aaron Dorfman is executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) and frequently blogs about the role of philanthropy in society. He presented the report during the “Beyond Silos and Short Term Goals: How High-Impact Are Your Strategies” session at the Council on Foundations 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference.