Recognizes that, historically, donors have been considered exempt from uncomfortable conversations about these topics—which is a disservice to both donors and the sector.

We must invest in funders who come from the communities we serve.

Put an end to “Trickle-Down Community Engagement” where larger organizations absorb the majority of funding and filter small amounts to small organizations and marginalized group.

Be thoughtful about which donors you choose to work with

Organizations must check often (at least annually) that their mission is still relevant and responsive to community needs.

Invest in staff and board that are effective in the sector and can build bridges between organizations/communities.

Avoid practices that create a “tragedy of the commons,” where one organization benefits, but the output actually negatively affects the entire sector (and thus, the collective community.)

The community is better serves if we see ourselves as part of a larger ecosystem working collectively to build a just society.

We are not all competing for the same resources!

Invest in staff; compensate them fairly, invest in grown, appreciate them as much as we appreciate donors.

Value volunteers equal to donors (see below)

It’s the only resource we can’t make more of so it should be one of the most valued.

Understand that different communities have different abilities to contribute time.

Understand that staff are contributing time and expertise all the time.

Be honest, respectful, and willing to engage.

Create opportunities for donors to understand the complexity of our work.

Never prioritize a donor’s wished over the clients/community.

Throw out the savior complex; no one person or organization can save anything.

Be thoughtful and respectful when you use public impact stories; don’t reinforce any stereotypes.

Use ‘we’ instead of ‘you’ language when possible; foster the idea that individuals are not saviors, they’re part of a community

Belief that by investing in others and the common good, people personally benefit.

Avoid a charity or pity narrative and encourage donors to see how they benefit and fit in the community they’re serving.

Be transparent with financial reporting.

Encourage donors to understand how core mission support means supporting overhead/indirect costs (i.e., core support expenses)

Do not exaggerate core support expenses.

Stop prioritizing donors/underwriting/funding as a way to flow new donations directly to programs/services (this reinforces the overhead myth narrative)

Funders need to grapple with root causes of inequity—including the destructive effects of capitalism—and how we’re all complicit in this process.

Funders also need to understand that existing in a capitalist society is not a reason to ignore anti-capitalist needs met and built by the nonprofit sector.