Georgetown University Press Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy: How Democratizing Decision-Making Shifts Power to Communities (Georgetown Studies in Philanthropy, Nonprofits, and Nongovernmental Organizations)

Institutional foundations are influential, yet it can be difficult to understand how they operate. How do they make decisions? What impact do those decisions have on nonprofits, civil society, and democracy more broadly? One practice that holds promise for demystifying this relationship is participatory grantmaking (PG), in which stakeholders and grantees participate in making decisions about grant dollars that were previously reserved for professional foundation staff. The community-based case studies in Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy signal a cultural shift away from the power of elite institutions and their penchant for top-down decision making. This book combines perspectives from academics and practitioners who address how PG relates to other features of contemporary giving, including trust-based philanthropy; giving circles; and crowdfunding; conservative philanthropy; giving traditions in communities of color; and global giving. Using in-depth case studies, quantitative research, and other evidence-based exploration, Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy will be a strong resource for philanthropy practitioners not only at the community level, but also at large institutional foundations as well as mega donors looking to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion in their decision-making practices.