TRANSFORMING PHILANTHROPY

An important part of EPIP's mission is "to advance effective social justice philanthropy." Currently, we work toward this element of our mission primarily through three programs: The Dialogue Project, our Philanthropology™ seminars, and other Social Justice Philanthropy Education.

The Dialogue Project

EPIP has teamed up with Resource Generation to create the Dialogue Project. Resource Generation is a national network that supports and challenges young people with wealth. The Dialogue Project is creating spaces for honest cross-role, cross-class conversations about power dynamics amongst emerging foundation professionals and emerging major donors. We have held local and national gatherings and workshops toward this end. In the future, we seek to attract additional partner organizations to join the Dialogue Project, so that we may involve other stakeholders in these conversations - particularly emerging fundraisers and nonprofit leaders.

Philanthropology™

Philanthropology™ 2.0 - Paradoxes in Philanthropy seminar helps participants to think through their ideas and questions about how philanthropy and foundations can (or cannot) help to bring about a just society. In particular, this module introduces the notion that paradoxes are inherent to the cross-class work of social change oriented philanthropy, and helps EPIP constituents to explore how they can manage these contradictions, given the work they do and the institutions and systems in which their work takes place.

Philanthropology™ 3.0 - Transforming Philanthropy offers intimate cross-role, cross-class dialogues amongst young people in different roles across philanthropy. The goal of the workshop is to build empathy, understanding and a spirit of cooperation and shared social change mission amongst people in very different roles in philanthropy. This workshop has been developed in coordination with Resource Generation through the Dialogue Project.

Social Justice Philanthropy Education

EPIP's goal here is to introduce ideas and practices related to Social Justice Philanthropy to emerging grantmakers. We hope to create opportunity for honest debate, transformative learning, and skills-building that expand and improve Social Justice Philanthropy.

Many emerging grantmakers seek to change organized philanthropy from the inside-out; they look toward a future in which many more foundations are governed, staffed, and advised by people from traditionally marginalized communities and those who have committed their careers to social justice work. Some refer to this as community-based philanthropy.

Others wish to understand the movements, organizations, coalitions, campaigns, leaders, and issues that compose a broad social justice sector.

Still others want to learn about specific funding and fundraising strategies that are most effective in strengthening social justice efforts.

EPIP strives to provide events, resources and referrals that address this array of needs. To find definitions, research and links on this subject, please visit our page on Social Justice Philanthropy.


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