There is an ongoing conversation about the growing social injustices and lack of equality that persists in the foundational systems of our society. It’s clear that something needs to change. The U.S. philanthropic sector spends more than a quarter of its charitable donations on educational causes, but to truly make a difference, a more focused effort on social justice needs to be taken to help drive equity in our society. To create meaningful change, here are some ways philanthropy can help combat social injustice through education and other initiatives.
Educate on power.
Power is the key to addressing social injustice. We can help underserved and marginalized communities by providing them with the knowledge, resources, and skills to have a say in the political, economic, and cultural systems that affect their lives. This builds the capacity of those who are disenfranchised to make changes to policies and challenge established interests.
Fund nonprofit “ecosystems” rather than focus areas.
Philanthropy needs to provide a more comprehensive, multi-issue approach in order to effectively combat social injustice. To successfully address these complex problems, philanthropic organizations should focus on creating a network of nonprofits working in a system of social change. This web of organizations can collaborate and strengthen existing efforts by supporting “ecosystems” of various smaller nonprofits or social justice groups. Philanthropy should be holistic and multi-issue in nature rather than just focusing on certain areas in order to provide a comprehensive solution to social injustice.
Prioritize frontline grassroots groups.
Organizations on the frontline in underserved communities should be given priority when it comes to philanthropic support. Larger philanthropic organizations often overlook these smaller, locally-run initiatives, and yet, they are better equipped to understand and directly solve the issues faced by underserved communities, particularly those run by people of color. A place-based approach to philanthropy is better suited to combat social injustice than traditional models that focus on larger nonprofits and changing federal policy. By strengthening the capabilities of these grassroots groups, real change can be achieved on the ground.
Let nonprofits take control.
Donors can help combat social injustice by changing the traditional philanthropy model. In a new power-sharing partnership model, decision-making is decentralized, and ongoing operational support is provided, rather than the more limited project funding. Nonprofits can then provide input on where and why their organizations need assistance to bring about change. Instead of only giving funds to particular areas, general operational support empowers nonprofits to move funds from one area to another as necessary to determine what strategies are most effective. By doing this, donors are helping to acknowledge that it can take a considerable amount of time to build a lasting social movement and requires adaptability.
Invest in more advocacy and civic engagement work.
Foundations have the ability to provide funding for nonprofit advocacy and civic engagement work, as well as to lobby or support lobbying within certain limits for community foundations. Social justice affinity groups stress the importance of foundations engaging in this type of philanthropy. The most straightforward way for foundations to fund nonprofit advocacy work is to provide general operating support. This is an important role; however, foundations are currently not funding these areas to their fullest potential.
Reassess impact measurements.
Philanthropic organizations must take a step back and reassess how they measure the impacts of their efforts in order to address social injustice. Current data practices fail to acknowledge the intricate relationships between social movements and various groups in society. To address this, new collaborative models are being developed in order to more accurately and comprehensively track progress.
Build relationships and feedback systems.
In order to tackle social injustice, nonprofit foundations should invest in building stronger relationships with the communities they are trying to help. This shift would allow them to focus on long-term support methods while also giving the local communities decision-making power. Doing so will allow for more meaningful exchanges with local people and create the opportunity to design joint strategies that improve the lives of all involved.
As social justice and education evolve, so too should the way we allocate our resources to support it. Philanthropy has come a long way to match the times, with many philanthropists dedicated to addressing the root causes of issues, distributing power, and creating social movements to create a brighter, more equitable future. They are investing in tech-savvy solutions, getting involved in networking platforms, and embracing a more dynamic and participatory method of giving. This could mean a revival of the philanthropic sector with a stronger commitment to education and justice.