This post originally appeared on the Nonprofit Quarterly blog at https://nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/24893-the-oppression-olympics-the-critique-of-my-brothers-keeper.html

Voices from the Field: The Oppression Olympics & The Critique of MBK WRITTEN BY RAHSAAN HARRIS AND AKILAH WATKINS-BUTLER ...

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September 24, 2014

EPIP Webinar | Intent to Discriminate Not Required: Understanding a Structural Race Lens

 

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September 10, 2014

EPIP Webinar | Talent-Focused Grantmaking: Fund the People for Impact and Sustainability

 

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EPIP members are eligible for a 15% discount at courses offered by the NYU Academy for Grantmaking and Funder Education. Educating funders from throughout the USA and 23 other countries, the NYU Academy offers individual courses or a full certification in Philanthropy and Grantmaking. [7 courses.] Different offerings each semester. 5 day courses in January and July. Many of the courses are scheduled so participants can attend for 2 or 5 days. 

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This month’s Voices from the Field interview is with Peter Panepento. Peter Panepento is a digital and social media strategist who helps nonprofits and foundations build powerful networks. He is the former Senior Vice President of Knowledge and Community at the Council on Foundations, where he was responsible for leading the launch of the new Philanthropy Exchange online network.  Could you provide a brief professional description of who you are and what you do? I am a digital and social media strategist who helps foundations and nonprofits build powerful networks.

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This guest post was authored by Danielle Dias Coutinho, VP of Strategy & Outreach, Pipeline Fellowship ...

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This guest post was authored by Joy Stephan. It’s understood that with money, comes power.  But funders don’t always think about how power influences our funding relationships.  As funders, we have the power to amplify the influence of money, or conscientiously diminish its influence.  It’s in our best interest to neutralize the influence money brings.  Here’s why: YOU ONLY GET SO FAR WITH A SUGAR DADDY While NGO’s may fantasize about ‘benevolent funders’, there are limitations to no-strings-attached funds.  Funding without commitment is tenuous; there isn’t a foundation for trust to develop.   Further, partners are quick to blame or resent rather than focus on learning and course correction when organizations fall short of projected outcomes. Ultimately, funders who don’t trust and don’t share a commitment to the partnership cannot have a transformative impact on society. Funding relationships are ultimately human relationships- they grow through mutual understanding, learning and appreciation.  Positive emotions like these build strong, trusting bonds.  These relationships, while more complex, are also more satisfying – to funders, service providers, and the community at large. THE BIRDS AND THE BEES OF DIALOGUE Biology plays a role – dialogue triggers neurochemical and behavioral outcomes that can expand or limit relationships.  Dopamine is released in the brain when people talk to others they trust.  This hormone stimulates the prefrontal cortex, the area of our brain that generates new ideas, empathy, creative thinking and good judgment.  In contrast, conversations between people with low trust levels release cortisol and catecholamine, chemicals that shut […] Read more

This post was authored by Steering Committee member Ryan Ginard. Ryan works for The San Diego Foundation, where he builds capacity for the Malin Burnham San Diego Center for Civic Engagement through the Civic Leadership Fund. In a recent survey of 260 nonprofits, nearly half of the human resource executive staff reported an increase in their overall organizational influence – predominantly through more recognition by top-level executives that HR plays an integral role in executing an organizations mission. This represents a big opportunity for nonprofits and both public and private foundations to increase their capacity, be more impactful and achieve their goals through the identification and development of talented staff. As the interpretation of social justice moves away from its previous connotation of transferring wealth to one of building social infrastructure to help all members of society reach their potential, we are also seeing a parallel shift from purely program-based philanthropy to a campaign-like approach where engaging and building nontraditional constituencies and developing cross sector partnerships are the key to delivering tangible outcomes to those they seek to serve. The study, which was undertaken by the consultancy Nonprofit HR, reveals a renewed acknowledgement of HR’s role in achieving organizational success and on further reflection, its ability to equip organizations with new talent that will be able to adapt to the rapidly changing philanthropic sector. But where does HR find and how does it attract this new generation of nonprofit game changers? The great news is you don’t have to look […] Read more

August 22, 2014 Philanthropy Must Work Together Across Communities in Times of Crisis (download statement) The recent fatal shooting of unarmed African American teenager Michael Brown by police officers and the ongoing militarized response serves as a wake up call for all of us. Communities around the world have galvanized around this tragic moment to organize around broader issues of police brutality, transparency, and the profiling of young men of color. Unfortunately, Michael Brown’s tragic death can be added to an ever-expanding list of people who have died at the hands of law enforcement. And the ensuing civil unrest is deeply rooted in a complicated history of poverty and racial tension that is not isolated to the suburban town of Ferguson, Missouri. History has taught us that these acts are not isolated to any one community. We are all Michael Brown. From men of color to transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, too many people are targeted because they are different. The shooting death of this youth demands our collective participation. There is a need to ensure justice is served for the families and communities who have senselessly lost loved ones. At the same time we are also charged with addressing systems of inequality that cut across race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation lines. So what can philanthropy do? As many of us struggle to find justice in our broken systems or the meaning of racial justice in this 21st century nation, what is clear is that the most effective strategies […] Read more

EPIPhany Groups give members the opportunity to connect with one another via email and/or in-person across common professional interest areas. Members self indicate their interest and you will be matched with other participants who have a similar interest area. Groups may choose to meet in-person, or simply communicate via email with questions or suggested readings to help advance their work...

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