Written by Glynis Rankin, Co-Chair of the Catalyst 2030 Shifting the Funding Paradigm Workgroup, this three part series explores the innovative practices of funders who have recognised the need to fund differently and offers valuable insights on how you can shift your own funding practices.

Introduction

The conversation around shifting funding practices often revolves around what philanthropy “should” or “could” do differently. Working with local leaders as Founder and CEO of Creative Metier I have seen just how critical these shifts are. As Co-Chair of the Catalyst 2030 Shifting the Funding Paradigm Workgroup, I am privileged to witness numerous examples of funders already implementing these changes successfully. These practices, though transformative, often go under reported. This series of blog posts highlights the work of two pioneering funders to shed light on these practices and raise questions about how community needs could be better served for the future.

Part 1: The Mortenson Family Foundation

In June’s Conversations and Connections Café, we were captivated buy the stories from two visionary funders driving a new wave of philanthropy. This post focuses on the Mortenson Family Foundation, and the ground breaking insights shared by Margretta Supuwood, Community Relationship Officer for their Strengthening Developing Communities Grant Programme.

About the Mortenson Family Foundation

The Mortenson Family Foundation, a beacon of innovative philanthropy based in Minneapolis, is committed to building partnerships that not only promote equity but also challenge current funding practices, strengthening communities to drive their own development.

The Foundation operates three grant programmes: two focussed on Minnesota and one international programme dedicated to strengthening developing communities. The Strengthening Developing Communities Programme aims to improve the standard of living for youth and families in fourteen developing countries across East and West Africa and Central America.

The Foundation’s Approach

What sets the Mortenson Family Foundation apart is not just their mission, but their bold community centred approach to achieving it. The Foundation embodies a commitment to community, disrupting traditional philanthropy through strong relationships, and a focus on learning and reflection. These are the key principles that make their approach unique:

1. Foster collaborative relationships

The Foundation prioritises deep listening and true collaboration, giving potential partners the platform to fully articulate their aspirations and needs. This approach ensures genuine collaboration around shared purposes.

2. Emphasise trust and flexibility

Trust and flexibility are central to their funding process. Whenever possible, they provide unrestricted, multi year funding to support their partners.

3. Streamline application processes

The application process is designed to be clear and transparent. All meetings are conducted virtually, with interpretation into the partners own language provided to enable partners to express themselves freely. The initial application is a simple one pager, focussed on identifying the type of funding needed.

4. Deepen understanding of the community

The Foundation strives to understand the communities they support by encouraging leadership at all levels of the organisation, especially those with lived experience. They prepare partners thoroughly for meetings, ensuring they feel comfortable and confident.

5. Partner lead outcomes and reporting

Partners are encouraged to establish their own outcomes, with reporting processes designed to be beneficial for the partner rather than the Foundation.

6. Internal and external alignment

The Foundation fosters an environment of feedback and review, with the Board actively engaged in ensuring alignment between stated goals and actual practices. Regular check ins with partners help maintain this alignment.

Equity Commitments

In 2021, the Foundation Board took a bold step to refine its practices, with three transformative equity commitments, which are continuously refined through listening and learning with ongoing conversations with reflective partners and other funders in the ecosystem.

1. Increase funding to BIPOC led organisations

The Foundation committed to increasing both the percentage and the financial allocation of its grantmaking to organisations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), ensuring that these organisations are led by, and for, the communities they serve.

2. Support advocacy and change movements

Recognising the importance of funding for change, the Foundation committed to continue to increase the percentage and dollar allocation of their grant making for advocacy and change movements.

3. Centre community voices in grant making

The final commitment focussed on centering community voices in the grant making process, ensuring that those directly impacted by the Foundation’s work are integral to decision making.

The Foundation engaged in over 100 conversations with reflective partners and other funders within the ecosystem and conducted nine focus groups to refine these commitments. The analysis will be shared with stakeholders to confirm alignment between the Foundation’s actions and the feedback received, with a commitment to continuously improve and engage partners in this evolving process.

The Mortenson Family Foundation is a powerful example of how funders can disrupt traditional philanthropy through intentionality, trust, and community centered approaches.

In the next post, we will hear from another funder leading the change in this new paradigm: Nadia Kist, Director of Africa Partnerships, Blood:Water.
We will continue to explore innovative funding practices that are already making a difference.

If you’re a funder looking to shift your own practices, consider how these principles might inspire your approach.

Find out more and join the Catalyst 2030 Shifting the Funding Paradigm Workgroup here.

Read Part 2: Blood:Water here

Read Part 3: Shared Approaches here