How We Work
We believe that lasting change in philanthropy starts with trust, collaboration, and shared learning. That’s why we offer thoughtful content, hands-on partnership opportunities, and a dynamic community of practice to help reimagine how funding works together.
- Sharing & Learning
We believe that knowledge grows through connection. That’s why we collaborate with grassroots leaders, funders, and changemakers across regions to document real experiences, explore what works, and imagine new possibilities for philanthropy.
Through stories, conversations, tools, and creative expression, we share lessons that can help build more equitable and sustainable funding relationships grounded in trust, care, and mutual growth.
Content is available in English and Spanish, and created with care, co-authorship, and inclusion at the heart.
Insights
Stories, reflections, and creative contributions from grassroots leaders, funders, and allies. This is where we share what we’re learning together.
Tools
Practical resources and approaches rooted in real experience. These tools are meant to support more equitable, trust-based funding practices and are made to be used, adapted, and shared.
Would you like to collaborate with us to create content?
- Transformative Collaborations
We believe change happens in relationships, not in isolation.
That’s why a key part of Better Funding is working hand-in-hand with funders who are ready to do things differently.
We collaborate with a small number of foundations and donors to pilot trust-based, equitable approaches to funding. Together, we explore what this looks like in practice, beyond the theory, beyond the buzzwords, and co-create real strategies that support more meaningful, respectful partnerships with grantees.
Our pilot program
Each year, we partner with 3–4 values-aligned funders who are committed to reimagining how they give. These collaborations are offered at no cost to participating funders and include:
- Personalized support and accompaniment.
- Tailored strategy development.
- Documenting and sharing the journey through case studies.
The goal? To learn together, to model what’s possible, and to inspire a wider shift across the philanthropic sector.
Ongoing support
Beyond our pilot program, we also offer customized consulting and collaboration for funders seeking to align their grantmaking with the principles of Better Funding. This might include:
- Rethinking application or reporting processes.
- Designing ethical exit strategies.
- Creating more reciprocal and transparent relationships with grantees.
- Grant selection and management.
- Designing cross-collaboration, capacity-building and learning strategies with grantees.
These services are offered on a paid basis and contribute to the long-term sustainability of our work, allowing us to keep building, sharing, and supporting the movement toward better funding.
Are you a funder looking for collaboration?
- Community of Practice
Our Community of Practice brings together funders, grassroots leaders, and philanthropy practitioners who are committed to reimagining how funding works. It’s a collaborative space where people from across the globe exchange stories, reflect on challenges, and co-develop more equitable, trust-based practices.
What we’re building:
A supportive, inclusive learning network grounded in:
- Mutual respect across roles and regions.
- Non-judgmental dialogue and open exchange.
- Peer learning and co-created knowledge.
- Storytelling rooted in lived experience.
This is a space to flatten hierarchies, amplify community leadership, and build deeper
understanding between funders and grantee partners.
How it works:
- Participatory learning sessions.
- Facilitated peer exchanges.
- Regionally informed case studies.
- Co-created content in both English and Spanish.