Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy: How Democratizing Decision-Making Shifts Power to Communities

＂Amid growing fears that democracy is under threat, there has been a surge in the number of civil society organizations internationally that emphasizes civic participation, empowerment, equality, and justice. The latter are inherent in participatory practice, which has exploded as a result, including in the philanthropic sector, where there are now a growing number of organizations dedicated to this ethos. For decades, philanthropy was seen as endowed foundations set up by the rich, but that has begun to change with crowdfunding, giving circles, donor-advised funds, and a panoply of digital giving platforms that allow ＂everyone to be a philanthropist.＂ While tech-enabled collective giving is indeed one way in which philanthropy is evolving, this collection will address a related but distinct phenomenon: institutional foundations that choose to allow nonprofit and community participation in decisions on grants＂--

Cynthia Gibson (PhD, social policy, Rutgers University) is a consultant who has worked with hundreds of philanthropic institutions and major nonprofits on strategic planning, program development, evaluation, and communications. Chris Cardona (PhD, political science, University of California, Berkeley) programs the philanthropy portfolio and serves on the BUILD team at the Ford Foundation in New York City. Jasmine McGinnis Johnson (PhD, public policy, Georgia Institute of Technology / Georgia State University) is an associate professor of public policy and public administration in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at George Washington University. David Suárez (PhD, Education, Stanford University) is an associate professor at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington.