Trust-Based Philanthropy with a Racial Equity Lens: A Cohort Program for Grantmaking Practitioners

One of the core values of a trust-based approach is to work for systemic equity, which should include a focus on racial equity. And while trust-based philanthropy and racial equity work are not identical nor interchangeable, both work hand-in-hand to advance a vision for a more just and equitable nonprofit sector. In short, a racial equity lens is needed in order to fully embody trust-based philanthropy, and trust-based philanthropy is a helpful framework to actualize racial equity within philanthropy. To learn more about the distinctions and correlations, you can review the guide on The Intersection of Trust-Based Philanthropy & Racial Equity.

Maryland Philanthropy Network is pleased to be a partner with the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project for this multi-part series that will explore the relationship between the two approaches, to understand why a racial equity lens is needed (the issue), what a racial equity lens is in a trust-based approach (the answer), and how to operationalize it (the implementation). This series will include comprehensive data-informed content, rich discussion and insights from sector thought leaders, as well as an opportunity to connect with a cohort of peers actively working to understand and operationalize these concepts within their grantmaking organizations.

REGISTER HERE

Please note your affiliation with Maryland Philanthropy Network on the registration form.

This one-time registration will provide access to the Zoom link that will be used for all sessions along with any materials for the program.

Who should attend:

• This series is intended for leadership and staff of grantmaking organizations with some level of influence in operationalizing organizational change.
• Participants should come with a foundational understanding of the core concepts and values of trust-based philanthropy, and ideally have attended some trust-based philanthropy programming in the past. This program will not spend significant time explaining the foundational practices and tenets of a trust-based approach.
• Participants should be familiar with preliminary definitions and concepts related to racial equity work. This program will not spend significant time reviewing general definitions and introductory equity principles.
• Participants should have an explicitly identified organizational/grant-making goal towards operationalizing trust-based philanthropy and/or racial equity (ideally both).
• This series is intended to be collaborative and interactive, particularly in the cohort discussion sessions. Participants should be prepared to engage and participate in discussion, reflection, and sharing.
• Participants must be willing to commit to attending the majority of the sessions, including workshops and facilitated cohort discussions. We only recommend registering if you are able to attend all three cohort discussions, and ideally all content sessions.

Participant Fee:

As this is an intensive, skill-building cohort, there is a fee of $200 for participation in the full series. Maryland Philanthropy Network members can participate at a discounted fee of $150 (plus a $12 processing fee). Please contact Elisabeth Hyleck for the discount code. Refunds for this series are not available.

Workshop and Cohort Gatherings:

This virtual program includes three educational workshops (90 minutes) complemented by three corresponding cohort-based discussion groups (60 minutes). 

• Workshop Session 1: November 29, 2023 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
  • The Issue - The first session in this series will outline why a racial equity lens is needed in a trust-based approach. This session will outline data and research on the philanthropic sector- including the history and current harmful racially-oriented practices philanthropy has perpetuated. The session will outline the problem to clarify why trust-based philanthropy and racial equity are complementary approaches, and why funders should be prioritizing both.
  • Cohort Discussion 1: December 12, 2023 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
• Workshop Session 2: January 18, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
  • The Answer - The second session in this series will outline what a racial equity lens looks like in a trust-based approach. This session will clarify the nuance and depth of a trust-based approach with a racial equity lens. The program will lay out how this is a solution to the sector-wide harms that conventional practices have sustained, and how it looks across the four dimensions of trust-based philanthropy.
  • Cohort Discussion 2: February 8, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
• Workshop Session 3: February 21, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
  • The Implementation - The third and final session in this series will outline how to implement a trust-based approach with a racial equity lens. This session will clarify the steps needed to operationalize this work, across the practices and across the grantmaking lifecycle, accounting for a diversity of funding institutions and points of implementation. This session will include case studies from funders who are actively on this journey, as well as lessons learned in the implementation process.
  • Cohort Discussion 3: March 4, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET

This program is held in partnership with the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, a five-year initiative (2020-2024) that provides funders and grantmaking practitioners with the tools, frameworks, and community spaces to deepen their work of creating a more equitable and impactful philanthropic sector.