Sadaf Shallwani

In philanthropy, there has been increasing interest, dialogue, and work towards shifting power and working towards equity and justice. In this context, different philosophies and approaches have emerged. On a list-serv that I am part of, a recent discussion emerged on the distinctions between three related but different paradigms that seek to shift power in philanthropy: trust-based philanthropy (TBP), reparative philanthropy, and liberatory philanthropy. In this post I would like to share in a more organized way some of my thoughts that I shared with the list-serv.

First, what are these three approaches to philanthropy?

(1) Trust-Based Philanthropy: Building Relationships on Trust

At the heart of trust-based philanthropy is the relationship between the funder and the grantee. The core principle is trust: the funder trusts that the grantee knows best how to use the funds to address the issues at hand. This approach reduces the burden of excessive reporting and allows grantees the freedom and flexibility to innovate and respond to emerging needs.

While TBP can incorporate an understanding of systemic inequity and a commitment to redistributing power, these are not its primary focus. The main goal is to establish a trustful relationship, which can indeed lead to more equitable practices, but does not necessarily require a deep examination of how the funder might be complicit in structural inequities. As such, TBP can be seen as an important first step in shifting power dynamics within philanthropy.

(2) Reparative Philanthropy: Redressing Historical Harms

Reparative philanthropy takes a more explicit stance on addressing the harm caused by historical injustices, such as colonization, slavery, and other forms of oppression. The core objective here is to redress these harms by returning wealth to the communities and individuals from whom it was taken.

This approach demands a thorough understanding of inequity and a commitment to redistributing power. Reparative philanthropy is fundamentally about acknowledging and correcting historical wrongs. It is inherently trust-based because genuine reparative efforts require trusting the affected communities to lead the way in determining how reparations should be made.

(3) Liberatory Philanthropy: Dismantling Oppressive Structures

Liberatory philanthropy goes further by seeking to dismantle the systems and structures that perpetuate inequality and oppression. It aims for radical change and genuine liberation for marginalized communities. This approach focuses on addressing the root causes of structural inequity, supporting movements and activism, and ensuring decision-making power lies with those directly affected by the issues.

Liberatory philanthropy is about creating conditions for a just and liberated society, including and going beyond trust-based relationships and addressing harm. It involves multiple movements and revolutionary approaches to dismantle the societal structures that concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few.

So, how do these approaches relate to one another?

While trust-based philanthropy, reparative philanthropy, and liberatory philanthropy share a commitment to shifting power and addressing inequity, they differ somewhat in their primary focuses and methods. These approaches are not mutually exclusive. They can be seen as steps along a continuum of deepening commitment to justice and equity:

• TBP emphasizes trust and reducing the burdens on grantees, which is critical part of shifting power and strengthening the agency of grassroots communities. It is a necessary requirement and foundation for more equitable practices.
• Reparative philanthropy goes further by challenging us to understand how we are complicit in systemic inequity, and requires us to redress historical harms and redistribute wealth and resources to those from whom they were unjustly taken.
• Liberatory philanthropy pushes us even further to courageously dismantle harmful structures that perpetuate inequity and oppression, and create the conditions for a just and liberated society.

These are my thoughts based on my awareness of these approaches. I welcome clarifications and comments below. I hope this conversation is helpful and generative.

Sadaf Shallwani

Resources to learn more

Trust-based philanthropy

• Trust-based philanthropy website
• The rise of trust-based philanthropy (Shaady Salehi, 2024, SSIR)
• The Strategic Value of Trust-Based Philanthropy (Stacey Faella & Ryan Roberson, 2024, SSIR)

Reparative philanthropy

• Decolonizing Wealth website
• Why Reparations? (Liberation Ventures)
• Philanthropy’s Role in Reparations and Building a Culture of Racial Repair (Liberation Ventures and Bridgespan Group, 2023)
• Philanthropy Must Play an Active Role in Reparations for Black People (National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, 2024)
• Reparations: A roadmap for philanthropy (Aria Florant, Tonyel Edwards, Cora Daniels, Alexandra Williams & Maurice Asare, 2023, SSIR)

Liberatory philanthropy

• Resonance Framework – Redistribute Wealth, Democratize Power, & Shift Economic Control (Justice Funders) – 2nd Edition, a Just Transition guide for philanthropic transformation
• Philanthropy Needs A New Endgame: The Liberation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Communities In America (Sidney R. Hargro, 2020, Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia)
• How Liberatory Philanthropy and Restorative Investing Can Remake the Economy (Rodney Foxworth, 2019, NPQ)