Summer Reading

So much of our reading this year is related to our Doing Good Better work, a partnership between the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits and CNJG to reimagine how funders and nonprofits work together. Summer is the perfect time to catch up on reading, so we wanted to share many of those articles, blogs, reports, and resources with you. 
 
Our work is rooted in systems change – the recognition that transformative change can only occur after power structures have been addressed collectively. Published by FSG, The Water of Systems Change gives us a working definition for systems change as “shifting the conditions that are holding the problem in place.” Once we understand this basic principle, as well as the 6 conditions that hold social problems in place – policies, practices, resource flows, relationships & connections, power dynamics and mental models – we can begin to address these conditions.
 
A number of different models are helping us rethink traditional philanthropic structures that perpetuate power imbalances between funders and nonprofit partners. While Council members are likely most familiar with trust-based philanthropy, other frameworks are helping both funders and nonprofits consider how philanthropy supports its partners. The Rise of Participatory Grantmaking provides a concise and approachable primer on the benefits, trends, and challenges of participatory grantmaking, and the wisdom of relying on those with lived experience. Community-centric fundraising and its grounding in equity and social justice, respects and builds relationships with donors, but prioritizes community above all. 
 
The Center for Effective Philanthropy has been a leading voice of the need to shift power imbalances and address inequities in philanthropy. Using our Power to Recenter Voice is the first in their new blog series from the Feedback Incentives Learning Group, dedicated to encouraging foundations and nonprofits to “listen and respond to the people who are most impacted and often least consulted by philanthropy and nonprofits.” And we’ve seen philanthropy change in real time, in response to the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and calls for racial reckoning, but we need to ensure these changes have “staying power.”
 
In the most recent NJ Nonprofits: Trends and Outlook 2022 report, nonprofits weigh in with their observations about funding practices of their philanthropic partners. Some of these observations may be a bit difficult to read, but are worth reflection.
 
I hope you’ll consider adding these blogs, articles, reports, and resources to your summer reading list, as well as sharing what you’re reading and learning with your colleagues via one of the 24 listserves offered to CNJG members. 
 
Finally, in case you missed it, congratulations to someone whose work has helped CNJG members do their own work better - Anna D’Elia has accepted a new position with Princeton University. She will be missed. 
 
We’ll take a hiatus from CNJG News in August, and return in September. Have a wonderful summer.
 
Sincerely,

Theresa Jacks, Acting President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers