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Brilliant and energising conversation this afternoon about shifting power dynamics in grantmaking with @betterwaynetwrk @SufinaAhmad @OliverStanding Lots of great insights. A few things that stood out for me were...
As @SufinaAhmad highlighted, we need to reflect individually on our own power, privileges & perspectives - but this is also a collective endeavour. Examples like @LondonFunders London Community Response Fund show us what can be achieved when funders work together & share power.
Power is not always bad as @OliverStanding emphasised, it is an animating force for change. Covid-19 has shaken up our perceptions of power, with key workers held up as heroic figures, but how long will this last? Charities also have power & many know how to dance with funders.
Lots has changed since @Fatima_A2020 @angiekail @NPCthinks published our report on rebalancing power in March: https://www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub/power-dynamics/ Many funders have shown flexibility, trusted charities, given core funding & listened to what communities need. But there is much more to do...
...the power imbalances that existed before Covid-19 have hampered our ability to respond effectively. Groups like @FutureFoundsUK have called out the lack of trust, blind spots & burdensome practices that are still happening. https://twitter.com/FutureFoundsUK/status/1266271342225063937
Finally, @SufinaAhmad made a powerful point that we can get much further with an 'abundance' perspective, with a positive framing of what communities have to offer rather than problematising, stigmatising and focusing on 'issues'.
