By Christine Reeves, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

Philanthropy’s Promise, an initiative of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, celebrates many of the country’s most innovative and influential grantmaking institutions. So far 183 foundations and counting have joined, including nine Exponent Philanthropy members. Each foundation that joins the initiative is committed to providing:

(1) at least half its grant dollars for the intended benefit of underserved or marginalized communities, broadly defined (e.g., people with HIV/AIDS, women and girls, racial and ethnic minorities, the homeless)

(2) at least one-quarter of its grant dollars for systemic change efforts, broadly defined (e.g., advocacy, community organizing, civic engagement, policy, voter registration)

These are smart strategies that help many grantmakers leverage limited dollars to achieve better results.

All the Philanthropy Promise foundations also write one-page statements, describing their respective work and commitment in their own words.

Peter and Jennifer Buffett, co-presidents of the NoVo Foundation, detailed their rationale for joining in their one-page statement: “Empowerment of underserved populations lies at the heart of NoVo Foundation’s grantmaking and for that reason we enthusiastically sign on to the Philanthropy’s Promise initiative.”

In the Hill-Snowdon Foundation’s one-page statement, Executive Director Nat Williams wrote: “As a responsible steward of wealth for the public good whose grantmaking affects the public, we make our goals as transparent as possible and that is one reason we make this public statement. We also hope this statement will contribute to the discussion within philanthropy about how we, as a sector, can best promote the public good.”

The team at The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation explained in their one-page statement:

“We believe that:

• People most affected by a problem are in the best position to determine the solutions to that problem.
• True change occurs only when underlying, systemic forces are understood and addressed.
• Grassroots, constituent-led organizing is among the most effective means to create social change. We define organizing as collective action that challenges the status quo, demands changes in policy and practice, educates communities about root causes of social problems and advocates and agitates for systemic and just solutions.
• Lasting change occurs when Social Justice Movements are built from the ground up and grassroots groups come together across sectors and constituencies to work for the common principles of Human Rights and Justice for All.”

Today, of the 1,100 largest foundations in the U.S., the median share of giving to social justice efforts is only 2 percent and to marginalized or underserved communities is only 24 percent. Philanthropy’s Promise foundations are leading a movement in philanthropy to fund more equity, inclusion and positive structural change.

If you are attending Exponent Philanthropy’s 2014 National Conference and interested in learning more about this community of foundations, sign up for a “Change Makers Dinner” on Thursday, October 30 with three Exponent Philanthropy members/Philanthropy’s Promise foundations: Consumer Health Foundation, Hill-Snowdon Foundation, and Public Welfare Foundation. Or, you can read more on NCRP’s website.

Christine Reeves is senior field associate at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. She can be reached at [email protected].