To advance equity in philanthropy, we must start by elevating the voices of those most impacted.

 

The Equitable Giving Project is the first research project to look to grant seekers, rather than funders, for insights about the state of equity in philanthropy.

Between October 2020 and April 2021, The Equity Lab partnered with The University of Delaware’s Center for Research in Education and Social Policy and Goodbets Group to administer a comprehensive survey to learn more about the experiences of those seeking funding from education-focused philanthropic organizations. Their responses provided a rich view into their lived experiences and a call to arms to funders interested in creating a more equitable playing field. Download the executive summary or read the full report to learn more about what we found and what funders can do to rethink grantmaking practices through an equity lens.

Key Facts

221 grant seekers responded to the survey.

The majority of respondents identified as members of underrepresented groups: Nearly 90% identified as people of color, more than two thirds identified as women, and nearly 20% identified as LGBTQ+.

72% of respondents had applied to three or more organizations in the past five years.

Key Findings

Respondents overwhelmingly believed that their personal identity played a significant role in funding decisions, with racial and ethnic identity most often named as the defining characteristics.

Leaders of color noted a perceived bias from funders against non-normative leadership styles and small, minority-run organizations.

Relationships with funders were named as crucial to funding success.

The process of applying for grants is time-consuming and often confusing, leading some to stop seeking such funding.

Here’s what the grant seekers who were interviewed had to say.

  • “It's an exhausting process to pursue from relationship building to data mining. There is often an element of trying to convince positions of power that the work is worthy of funding. I have given up on grant pursuits because of the energetic cost to devoting time and effort in applying without guaranteed income or support. For a small team, devoting dedicated time for grant writing means the work we are passionate about doing doesn't get done and the impacts we are seeking aren't met.”

  • “Often when awarded grants, there is still a lack of confidence in our ability to implement the proposed project although we have 23 years of experience and positive outcomes. There appears to be an unspoken concern about a Black male running and managing an organization of our size.”

  • “Without understanding funders and funding formulas it is very difficult to know if what you are doing will be supported, so often I just do not even try. The barrier of getting the grant written is often bigger than just self-funding smaller scale projects.”

  • “It is humiliating what one has to suffer to get funded. You have to suffer through rejections while watching mediocre white led organizations access the same funding...I have to say that the current class of philanthropic leaders are teaching the up and coming black/brown leaders that they too can ignore the organizations that are small, led by women or are overweight, not in the ‘club.’”

  • “There is a lack of feedback in these application processes that make it hard for us to get better at these processes. We can seek feedback from other parties, but when it's not personalized from the application reviewers, we really don't have any additional insight into the process.”

  • “Funders seem to want people who are executing ventures in the way the funder thinks is best. This effectively creates a very top down approach to innovation where some philanthropic outsider is dictating what is good for others and not taking into the account the experience and wisdom of those on the ground.”

Recommendations

Offer grant-seekers additional opportunities to showcase their work, such as speaker series, showcases, and networking circles.

Provide mentoring, coaching, and feedback to grant-seekers.

Create opportunities for grant-seekers and funders to build relationships outside of the grantmaking process.

Consider redesigning the funding process to further reduce barriers for leaders of color.

Learn more about the research.

 

Get involved.

This work is just getting started. Want to be a part of the movement toward more equitable philanthropy? Use the link below to fill out our contact form, or email info@theequitylab.org.