Shared Approaches of Funders Shifting the Funding Paradigm
Listening to Nadia and Margretta, as facilitator of this engaging Connections and Conversations Cafe, I was struck by the way in which power is located with the communities and partners they serve, with deep humility at every stage of their engagement. The coherence between deeply held values and funding practice is strongly evident and continuously refined through listening and understanding partner needs.
Whilst there are of course, many funders who are working to similar principles, it is informative to see the commonalities in approach demonstrated in this session.
Both the Mortenson Family Foundation and Blood:Water exemplify innovative funding approaches that disrupt traditional philanthropy by placing trust, collaboration, and community leadership at the heart of their practices. Whilst they operate in different regions and contexts, their funding models share significant similarities in prioritising relationships, flexibility, and the empowerment of local partners. These similarities are:
1. Community led decision making
Both funders center the voices of the communities they serve. They emphasise listening to, and learning from, partners to meet their needs and believe that local communities are the experts and should lead their own development. This recognition of community leadership is a core principle for both, ensuring that those most affected by the funding are empowered to shape the outcomes.
2. Trust and flexibility
Mortenson and Blood:Water both embrace flexibility in their funding, offering unrestricted and multi-year grants where possible. This approach reflects their commitment to trusting partners to use funds where they are needed most. Blood:Water’s relationally deep partnerships also provide scalable funding, reducing administrative burdens and allowing for long term collaboration. Mortenson’s streamlined and transparent application process, with translation provided to enable potential partners to participate equitably in the process provides a role model for the sector.
3. Partnership focused on learning and growth
Both organisations place a strong emphasis on the continuous development of their partners. Mortenson supports leadership at all levels within the organisations they fund, while Blood:Water goes further by investing in the institutional health of their partners, ensuring organisations are not only supported in their missions but strengthened for long term success.
4. Equity and power sharing
Both funders are committed to addressing systemic inequalities. Mortenson’s equity commitments seek to increase funding for BIPOC-led organisations and centre community voices in decision making. Similarly, Blood:Water focuses on power transfer, ensuring that partnerships are mutual and adaptive, giving partners the opportunity to shape the relationship and influence key decisions.
5. Ongoing feedback and reflection
Both funders employ feedback mechanisms to ensure alignment with partner needs. Mortenson engages in regular check ins with partners to reflect on practices, while Blood:Water uses mutual performance monitoring and anonymous surveys, enabling partners to assess their work and ensure accountability. Both funders are committed to continuous learning and improvement, informed by ongoing dialogue with partners.
In summary, both Mortenson and Blood:Water exemplify the shift towards a funding paradigm that values trust, flexibility, and a community led approach. Their shared focus on empowering local organisations, fostering deep relationships, and addressing equity challenges sets them apart as leaders in reimagining how philanthropy can drive meaningful and sustainable change.
This Connections and Conversations Cafe is just one of many inspirational sessions of the Catalyst 2030 Shifting the Funding Paradigm Workgroup. Join us and take a moment to explore the brilliant Catalyst resources.