Trusting The Communities You Serve
A primer on trust-based philanthropy for non-non-profit professionals
I work for a huge, global, matrix organization. I have bosses on bosses. There are people whom I have to “keep informed” about my work who don’t know anything (and probably don’t care) about my projects. Most of them have never worked in a role like mine, or if they did, did so a million years ago when the company (and global economy) was quite different.
The distance between these people’s daily work and my work is quite far. No matter how you measure that distance (time, priority, skill, experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, etc.), I am always closer.
This is why micromanaging irks us so much. We know we are closer to the challenge of our work than our manager’s. So, as the kids say, let us cook.
Now think about your favorite nonprofit and its effort to secure grant funding.
Whether it’s meant to be or not, this is the vibe that traditional grant funding has. It’s a bit “daddy knows best.” It’s less partnership and more, “Show me your work so I can make sure you’re being a good little org so I can release next year’s funds.”
Most everyday givers (those of us donating our hard-earned coins and not doling out tens of thousands to millions of dollars in grant money to nonprofits) may not consciously consider the role of trust in giving. But there is inherent trust in the decision to donate money to an organization. You are asking that organization to be a good steward of your money, to use it where it is most needed, and to make an impact that you can feel proud of supporting.
I believe that everyday do-gooders have a role to play in shifting the sector to embrace a more equitable future. Sure, we may have day jobs and not family foundations, but how we shape and shift our individual mindsets about giving can make an impact.
So, let’s talk about trust-based philanthropy (aka: TBP), the latest it-girl in grantmaking.
The basic premise of trust-based philanthropy is simple: the people doing the work understand how best to do the work. Or, alternatively stated, those closest to the challenge can best identify the solution.
The philosophy acknowledges that power dynamics exist between funders and funded organizations (nonprofits) and calls for greater transparency between parties.
At first blush, this seems obvious. But it goes deeper.
Traditionally speaking, most grantmakers funded specific projects or programs that had predefined, measurable goals. The nonprofits awarded funding were then held accountable for completing those projects or programs and reporting back to their funders about the outcomes.
Now, you’re probably still thinking this is fine (we all have annual reviews with our bosses, probably). And it’s not that it is inherently bad, but it does create a system in which accountability is a one-way street, with the nonprofits being held accountable to the funders, without much more than money coming from the other direction.
In this practice of funding only specific, predetermined projects and programs, organizations might find themselves lacking adequate discretionary dollars to build capacity in areas outside of those projects and programs. There are many ways this practice is damaging. The one I lose sleep over most is how it hurts nonprofit staff.
An excess of “restricted dollars” tied up in programs with limited discretionary dollars at the organization’s disposal can stifle hiring, development, and retention. Moreover, requirements in data collection and reporting can take valuable time, energy, and dollars away from the mission.
The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project is leading the discourse on this topic (they named it, after all). [Edit: It turns out The Whitman Institute first coined the name “trust-based philanthropy.” You can learn more about the origins in this blog.]
Though TBP was originally conceptualized for grantmakers and funders of a larger scale than the average American household, I believe all of us can take these principles and apply them to our own giving strategies.
Let’s dive into TBP’s six core tenets.
Give multi-year, unrestricted funding
What this means for grantmakers
Nonprofits need flexible funds to deliver the mission and react to the unpredictability of today’s world. Unrestricted grants can help nonprofits be more agile, creative, and innovative.
What this means for everyday givers
Next time you donate, if the organization allows you to designate your dollars for a specific fund, consider donating to the general fund.
I have personally seen this most in donating to institutions of higher education (like universities), and less for non-education nonprofits. But, in all cases, if the option exists, take a minute to consider the general pool funds.
Also, if you have the means, consider a recurring donation over a one-time sum. This helps nonprofits plan for the future and builds more sustainable orgs.
Do the homework
What this means for grantmakers
This shifts the burden of learning about an organization’s mission and work to the funder, freeing up valuable time and resources for the nonprofit.
What this means for everyday givers
If you have questions about a nonprofit, its cause, or the work it does, get to googling. Be curious, look into who the org partners with, what other orgs work in the same space, and how they typically use their funding (if that is of concern to you). Read their annual reports, check out their social media, and attend their events.
Simplify and streamline paperwork
What this means for grantmakers
The “T” in TBP is Trust. If you care enough about an organization to give them money, trust that they are being good stewards of the funds and eliminate unnecessary and extraneous paperwork that distracts the organization from mission-critical work.
What this means for everyday givers
Try to make your donation as streamlined as possible (whether it be through credit card, check, donor-advised fund, or whatever means). If you are donating in-kind goods or services, ask the org exactly what is needed and where.
Be transparent and responsive
What this means for grantmakers
Prioritize authentic and proactive communication with partners.
What this means for everyday givers
If you commit to an organization, honor it. If your circumstances change, communicate that to the organization as soon as possible, and consider looking for alternatives that can help them avoid scrambling.
Solicit and act on feedback
What this means for grantmakers
Be open to, and actively solicit, feedback from the orgs you partner with, especially when shifting to a TBP model. Remember that actions speak louder than words, and part of trusting nonprofit partners is also trusting that they have your best interests in mind.
What this means for everyday givers
Trust that the nonprofit knows their work best. If you receive feedback about a mismatch (perhaps an in-kind donation of yours is no longer needed), adjust accordingly.
Offer support beyond the check
What this means for grantmakers
What can you do to support grantees beyond money? Publicity, expertise, advice, networking…
What this means for everyday givers
Consider the 4 T’s of giving: Treasure, Time, Talent, and Ties. You’ve checked off the first T (treasure), but what might you have to offer from the other three T’s? Can you volunteer? Lend a special skill you have? Or bring others in your network into the mission?
I personally came to learn about TBP through my involvement and membership with Impact Austin, a women’s collective giving circle in Austin, Texas. As an org, we decided to make the shift from project and program-based funding in our annual grantmaking cycles and embrace unrestricted funding. Our first fully unrestricted funds were granted to six local nonprofits in 2025. This was a hugely exciting move for our org, and it seems to be supported by many collective giving circles around the United States.
It feels good to step away from “micromanaging” our nonprofit partners and lean into trust. That’s what I wish for my own corporate job, too.
I would love to hear about your experiences with TBP as an everyday giver, nonprofit professional, funder, whatever.
What other ways can everyday funders adopt TBP’s six practices?
Love this approach. It would’ve been so helpful to have unrestricted funds (and all the other Ts) when I worked in nonprofit admin. And as a giver, I also value this approach (unless I have a very specific reason for donating to a particular fund).