New Issue of Responsive Philanthropy features reflections from the sector’s best at the 2021 Impact Awards and a discussion of how data efforts can be elevated to do better work
WASHINGTON DC — As the philanthropic sector looks to close out one year and welcome the next, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) is capping off its own 45th anniversary by highlighting what allies and partners can do now to build a more equitable future for all.
The newest issue of NCRP’s Responsive Philanthropy lifts up the voices and models that the organization recently celebrated with its 2021 Impact Awards. The Nellie Mae Education Foundation (“Changing Course” Award for Incorporating Feedback), the California Wellness Foundation (“Get Up, Stand Up” Award for Rapid-Response Grantmaking), the Four Freedoms Fund (“Mover and Shaker” Award for Bold Peer Organizing) and the Third Wave Fund (“Smashing Silos” Award for Intersectional Grantmaking) were the four funders honored for exemplary practices that the entire philanthropic sector should adopt.
NCRP has spent decades providing non-profits and allies the tools needed to hold philanthropy accountable, shifting more deliberately in recent years to encourage funders to invest in frontline movements. After two years of unprecedented social, economic, climate and public health events, the honorees of this year’s Impact Awards underscore the effectiveness of a movement-centered philanthropy model. In this issue, NCRP staff also explain how to capture meaningful data that frontline groups can use and how organizations can measure their own progress as they work to invest in change.
“To build a fairer and more just world, leaders of philanthropies must have the courage to drive change and make their organizations better,” says NCRP President & CEO Aaron Dorfman. “We hope that this and every issue of RP provides readers the inspiration to be that courageous changemaker in their institution.”
INSIDE THE DECEMBER CHANGEMAKERS ISSUE
The following articles and all past issues of Responsive Philanthropy are available at no cost on NCRP’s website, ncrp.org:
In Their Words: Celebrating Philanthropy’s Best Models Today
At a time of great upheaval and change, the four winners of the Impact Awards listened to the communities they served and made changes to grantmaking models and empowered them to address needs efficiently. The four recipients’ speeches are transcribed in full in this issue.
Three Lessons 2020 Taught Us About the State of Philanthropic Data
Stephanie Peng, Senior Associate for Movement Research at NCRP, argues that the future of movement investment is inextricable from a rebuilt data infrastructure: one that is timelier, takes in quantitative and qualitative data for context and narrative, and is built to center movements. As she writes, “If we invest the time and resources to build a tool that empowers communities to advocate for more funding and points out gaps in funding that could inform foundation strategies, everyone will use it.”
Learning – And Change – Begins At Home
NCRP also follows its own advice, emphasizing that learning begins at home with a large-scale evaluation that took place this year halfway through NCRP’s ten-year strategic framework. This interview with Lisa Ranghelli, former Director of Evaluation is a central piece for reflecting on what has been accomplished and the challenges and opportunities for the next five years and beyond.
ABOUT NCRP
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) has served as philanthropy’s critical friend and independent watchdog since 1976. We work with foundations, nonprofits, social justice movements and other leaders to ensure that the sector is transparent with, and accountable to, those with the least wealth, power, and opportunity in American society.
Our storytelling, advocacy and research efforts, in partnership with grantees, help funders fulfill their moral and practical duty to build, share and wield economic resources and power to serve public purposes in pursuit of justice.
Together, we can create a just and equitable world where all communities get the resources they need to thrive.
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