Shifting the power in philanthropy: where do we start?
Victor Mora- Project Manager; Sara Hurtarte - coExDirector; Sherry Miller - SERES Global President; Marco Antonio Méndez - Land Technician; Aníbal Ramos - Land Technician.
On April 13-15, the SERES development team attended the Skoll World Forum, a space designed for learning, connection and taking action for anyone involved in social progress, that takes place with social impact change makers, foundations, social entrepreneurs and activists from around the world. In past years it has been held in Oxford and for the second year in a row they have organized it virtually opening the opportunity to register for free and open it to the world.
This year the forum was focused on "closing the gap" meaning how to bring together big global and family foundations, big corporations and companies - that have the power and money - with grassroot organizations and supporting them in the best way they can..
In theory and practice grassroots organizations have the know-how of social change in local communities because... well, we are locals.
At some point of the conference, I felt stuck in the same conversation it has been for years about shifting power in philanthropy and how foundations can use a direct philanthropy approach or trust based philanthropy. For me, it makes sense and resonates, but we hardly ever see it impacting us, if we don’t have the right connections or someone in the United States that can introduce us to the foundations, we are hardly ever going to get an invitation. And now more foundations are not accepting unsolicited proposals and invitations only.
This made myself and the team shape a crazy idea that it has been in our minds lately.
What can we do to shift the power in philanthropy? Instead of us looking for open calls, finding these invitations... How can we open conversations with these foundations that want to support change in the region.
How could we do that? What funders would think? Is it going to work?
We want to start honest conversations! We want to shake things up around here!
Here it is…
SERES Open Call for Foundations
We are receiving expressions of interest of foundations that match our criteria:
Focused on long-term impact and growth stories spanning several generations.
Support local leadership as a starting point for the local transformation.
Listen actively and speak intentionally, based on a learning perspective.
Willing to risk, betting on the unlikely leaders.
Flexible and understand the challenges and difficulties of working in a changing and vulnerable environment.
Committed to building capacity, beyond programmatic implementation.
Interested in sharing their networks to connect more organizations and foundations in the region.
Provide multi-year financing.
Curious and looking for creative ways to collaborate
We are more than excited to hear from you, thoughts, recommendation, interest, or feedback! Please get in touch with us through development@seres.org
We can't wait!
Sara Hurtarte,
CoExecutive Director
