Trust-based philanthropy begins with understanding and confronting systemic power imbalances.

While trust-based philanthropy advocates for a concrete set of actionable principles, the holistic practice is much greater than the sum of these parts. At its core, trust-based philanthropy begins with understanding power—and acknowledging how race, gender, class, sexual orientation, dis/ability, immigration status, and a number of other factors shape our lived experiences and our relationships to power.

As grantmakers, we have a responsibility to confront the reality that philanthropy has often contributed to systemic inequities, both in the ways wealth is accumulated and in the ways its dissemination is controlled. While these discussions may be difficult, this type of self-reflection is fundamental to the work of trust-based philanthropy. As individuals and institutions, we must be willing to examine our own relationships to power and money, and be willing to give up some of that power and control in a spirit of service and collaboration with those who are closer to the issues at hand.

Clarifying and aligning internal values around these core concepts is where much of the work lives. As trust-based practitioners, being clear on values helps you make decisions through moments of uncertainty or change, guides your relationship-building with grantee partners, and fosters internal alignment among your staff and board. The following values have been central to the work and approach of many trust-based foundations in our community. For funders who are just beginning their trust-based journey, we invite your feedback and reflections as you clarify your own core values:

• Lead with trust. Building trust-based relationships requires starting from a place of trust rather than suspicion, and redefining traditional notions of risk.

• Center relationships. Prioritizing healthy, open, honest relationships can help us navigate the complexity of our work and our world with greater confidence and effectiveness.

• Collaborate with humility and curiosity. We acknowledge that no one person has all the answers and that we can’t achieve our goals without listening to and collaborating with others.

• Redistribute power. In order to be successful in advancing our work, we must actively work to share power with grantee partners and communities who are closer to the issues we seek to address. 

• Work for systemic equity. We recognize the wider context of racial, economic, and political inequities in which we operate, and work to change practices and behaviors that perpetuate harm.