This report highlights the role of the Washington Census Equity Fund in promoting an accurate 2020 Census count in Washington. Through stakeholder interviews and data analysis, the evaluation delves into the impacts and lessons learned throughout the process of collective grantmaking, collaboration and advocacy.
In this report, "The Promise and Challenge of Community Democracy," authors Garland Yates and Peter Pennekamp reflect on their experiences and observations in discussion of what is needed to truly build change in communities.
A group of leaders have come together to create Democracy Northwest, a project to explore what philanthropy can do to strengthen democracy. Through an initial convening, two focus groups, sessions at the Philanthropy Northwest annual conference and other conversations, participants are broadening the conversation, sharing strategies to strengthen democracy and using democratic practices to strengthen philanthropy in turn. This discovery process generated a range of ideas to further explore and develop. In the action phase of the project, participants will identify the most promising ideas and support further inquiry, create programs, tools and participate in communities of practice to support them. This document summarizes the main ideas that emerged through the Discovery Phase.
Democracy Northwest is a resource for philanthropists who might be motivated to devote more attention to strengthening democratic practices and institutions. At a time when our democracy is suffering from multiple afflictions, philanthropy has a unique opportunity to contribute to its revitalization.
As one contribution to that work, we have prepared this working menu of democracy-strengthening resources. We recognize how incomplete this catalogue is, and we welcome suggestions about how to make the document more comprehensive and more useful in your work.
Daniel Kemmis explores the sometimes-fraught relationship between philanthropy and democracy. Beginning with a wide-ranging stroll through the shared history of philanthropy and democracy, Kemmis examines the current post-Citizens United landscape and asks whether philanthropy can and should do more to strengthen the infrastructure and practices of democracy.
As America becomes more diverse, so too are our social movements diversifying — and better integrating the diversity they've held within them all along. That's the context for the "Verde Paper," an exploration of Latinos in the environmental movement, which holds important lessons for advocates and philanthropists who want to better support and partner with Latino communities.
