Participatory grantmaking is a form of grantmaking that shifts decision-making power about strategy, criteria, and funding either partially or entirely to non-donors who represent the field that donors aim to serve. Our report summarizes research and analysis on the governance structures of 10 initiatives organized as participatory grantmaking endeavors, funder collaboratives, or a blend of both. Governance structures codify the rules, norms, and relationships around decision-making for organizations and groups.
For the initiatives we studied, a fundamental intent was to disrupt traditional power dynamics between funders and non-governmental organizations by expanding the circle of people with decision-making power. Our report reveals practical insights into how a variety of grantmaking initiatives have used governance design to address power, participation, representation, and other important issues.
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