What is Your Philanthropy in Service of?

In 2020, a mere 1.8% of total giving found its way to women’s and girls organizations¹. A stark contrast unfolded in 2021, where 58% of BIPOC-led nonprofits secured corporate donations, in contrast to 71% of their white-led counterparts².

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Delving deeper, for every $100 awarded by U.S. foundations in 2021, only 28 cents were directed towards LGBTQ communities and issues. Shockingly, less than 4 cents out of every $100 made it to the vital concerns of trans communities, as per 2020 data³.

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Fast forward to 2022, and the landscape shows that 64% of charitable giving came from individuals, with foundations contributing 21%. The lion’s share of these donations flowed towards religion, human services, and education, in that order⁴.

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Now, to launch 2024, the eighth annual report from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy unveils eleven trends they anticipate to play out in philanthropy this year. These trends promise to shape the philanthropic narrative with inquiries spanning morality, ethics, economics, and tactics. Key areas of focus include measuring the success of incarcerated students in higher education, the transformative impact of AAIP-led movements, the glass cliff faced by Black women leaders amid crisis, the national affordable housing crisis, and the integration of AI in philanthropy.

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Let’s turn the lens inward. What trends define your giving? What does your philanthropy aim to serve?

When deciding where to direct our generosity, an invisible force propels us towards a cause. Whether a conscious choice or an instinctive nudge, our ‘yes’ carries a motive. Personally, I’ve given in response to requests, as a means to support a cause at a particular time, or with a specific focus on investing in a particular issue area.

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My journey into philanthropy wasn’t always intentional. It took community engagement, continuous learning, and clarity on personal values to navigate the vast landscape of giving. A pivotal shift occurred when faced with two questions: 1) What is your philanthropy in service of? 2) To whom are you accountable?

Decisions regarding our resources — be it treasure, time, or talent — are reflections of our values and commitments. As racial justice practitioners, we grapple with the dynamics of intent versus impact. Perhaps, like me, your giving started with good intentions — supporting BIPOC womxn and girls. However, contributing to organizations not led by them forced me to question if I was truly contributing to the impact I envisioned.

When prompted about your giving, what resonates with you? Which causes stir a desire for change within you? What issues keep you awake at night?

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The new year traditions of reflection and commitment surround us. As you are shaping what this year will hold for you, I invite you to examine the motives behind your giving and the decision-making process that guides your philanthropy. Join me in identifying and reaffirming what our philanthropy is in service of, and how the way we allocate our treasure, time and talent will make it so.

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[1]: Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy. (September 2023). The Women & Girls Index 2023 Inforgraphic.
https://equitablegivinglab.org/WGI

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[2]: Nonprofit Finance Fund. 2022 Survey: A Focus on Racial Equity.
https://nff.org/2022-survey-focus-racial-equity

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[3]: Funders for LGBTQ Issues. (June 2023). 2021 Tracking Report: LGBTQ Grantmaking by U.S. Foundation.
https://lgbtfunders.org/research-item/2021-tracking-report/

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[4]: Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy.
https://givingusa.org/giving-usa-limited-data-tableau-visualization/‍