How Funders Can Better Support BIPOC-Led and Serving Nonprofits by Leveraging Trust and Technology

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led and serving nonprofits encounter serious barriers due to limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, and years of underinvestment. It's time for a new approach to philanthropy. 

This blog post will delve into the significance of a trust-based approach to philanthropy and how leveraging new technology solutions can promote more equitable outcomes for BIPOC communities. 

The Trust-Based Philanthropy Approach

Approaching philanthropy with a trust-based lens means shifting the traditional power dynamic between funders and grantees to build relationships based on mutual respect, transparency, and collaboration. Trust-based philanthropy urges funders to "do their homework" and get to know their grantees' needs. 

The traditional grantmaking model has included strict reporting requirements, lengthy grant application processes, and often short-term, transactional relationships. This model is often detrimental to BIPOC nonprofits and doesn't meet them where they are in their development or address many of their current needs.

In a trust-based philanthropy approach, funders prioritize listening to and engaging with grantees to understand and support their needs and challenges. The approach advocates providing unrestricted funding and longer-term commitments that allow grantees to operate more effectively, sustainably, and with greater room for innovation.

The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project offers concrete practices funders can take to shift towards trust-based grantmaking. The following suggestions were heavily inspired by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project:

Offer Long-Term Giving & Operational Support

One of the most effective ways funders can support BIPOC-led and serving nonprofits is through long-term giving. This can help armor organizations with sustainable growth over time. 

Often, BIPOC-led nonprofits receive short-term grants for specific programs. Whether intended or not, this practice leaves an impression of inherent distrust in a nonprofit's leadership while placing an undue strain on their teams. 

For BIPOC-led nonprofits to achieve tangible and sustainable social change, they should be granted multi-year, trust-based partnerships that include capacity-building and general operating support. 

Provide Access to Training, Mentorship, and Key Technologies

Funders can further drive the sustainability of BIPOC-led nonprofits by offering access to training, coaching, and technology tools. 

Technology has the power to transform philanthropy and help level the playing field to make grassroots nonprofits more sustainable. Leveraging technology also makes it possible to provide personalized support and comprehensive programs that foster growth.

Funders can amplify their impact by empowering BIPOC-led nonprofits with the following: 

• Video conferencing software. Using video conferencing software, funders can connect BIPOC-led nonprofit leaders with experienced mentors and trainers. Zoom, Google Meet, and Slack are just some available tools.

• Online training programs and webinars. Funders can help nonprofit leaders learn specific skills around issues pertinent to their organizations by creating online training programs and webinars.

• Mentorship or coaching platform. By developing a coaching platform, funders can connect BIPOC-led nonprofit founders with experienced professionals who can provide guidance and support in specific areas. 

• Online community. With an online community platform, funders can provide changemakers a space to connect, share resources, and collaborate to solve common challenges.

• Online donations and fundraising tools. An online donations portal added to a nonprofit’s website and other platforms can help ensure funds can be collected from various donors throughout the year.

• Social media and email. Social media and email are especially effective channels in building community, garnering support, promoting events, and sharing updates. Adding a link to an online donations portal makes these channels key to fundraising.

• Storytelling tools. To succeed in marketing and fundraising, nonprofits must effectively tell their impact stories and share them through email appeals and social media. Giving nonprofits access to story builder technology can help them attract more donors and volunteers.

• Impact and outcomes tracking. It’s essential for nonprofits to set goals and track outcomes from their initiatives in order to continue to learn and grow. The right online tools make it easy for nonprofits to track and share their progress.

Getting Help from Technology Providers to Support Nonprofits

While the possibilities for technology to transform BIPOC-led and grassroots nonprofits abound, it can be challenging or cost-prohibitive for funders to develop all the necessary resources for their nonprofit grantees. That’s where “tech for good” companies like Resilia come in.

Resilia offers a comprehensive program that combines the technology and training solutions described in one platform. This includes educational courses, templates, storytelling and fundraising tools, 1:1 nonprofit coaching, peer-to-peer learning, and other resources tailored to strengthen nonprofit capacity. To learn more, visit the Resilia Funder Program page.

To dive deeper into the practices, tools, and resources that can help funders support BIPOC-led and serving nonprofits, download our guide and learn how to simplify the grant application process and deliver beyond-the-grant capacity-building support.