Four Criteria for More Justice in COVID-19 Response Funds
Four Criteria for More Justice in COVID-19 Response Funds
By: Justin Laing | March 21, 2020 | Critical Philanthropy
There are a number of funding programs for nonprofits coming from predominantly white led organizations in response to COVID-19, and the way systemic racial capitalism works, without a designed interruption it is a certainty these funds will benefit predominantly white led nonprofits. This is not to say the funds are not needed by these nonprofits, but that the funds will be disbursed in the pattern of systemic racism. I mainly work in the nonprofit arts sector and over the last two days I’ve had a couple of conversations where we talked about this concern/expectation that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) will not get a needed share of those dollars, even though these arts organizations/collectives/individuals are already in and engaging people in a fragile economic position. So, here’s a list of criteria for which to advocate that I intend to share with people with whom I work for their reaction and discussion. These are fund priorities, not the fund’s sole focus, a way to rearrange who is first and seen in the line that is forming for assistance. Advocating for disruptions to systemic racism in the nonprofit arts sector (whether working outside or inside of a funding organization or process) is, of course, practice to develop a specific agenda we can use for deeper reform in the nonprofit arts sector. Here are 5 steps as an offer to the the larger discussion about how this moment can lead to changes that stay in place well after COVID-19.
- The fund should have a stated commitment that it is governed by a principle of equity. Acknowledge that the while this is a moment of deep distress, Black and Indigenous people and people of color (BIPOC) are often in distress due to systemic white advantaging and that this fund’s commitment to equity means that it will address this inequity.
- If a foundation, it should acknowledge that it is increasing its spending limits, say from 5% to 10% of the endowment, so as to not have the fund set up a conflict between BIPOC and White led nonprofits that are also in need. The request could be that it be made clear that increased spending has been a choice of the foundation’s board, so that the board is doing its work to address the inequity in the sector. I offer this because I’m concerned that if there is not a change in the year’s spending limit then it is likely that discretionary spending is being moved up in the year in terms of timing, but the foundation is not necessarily increasing the total dollars going out. Then later in the year when BIPOC orgs make requests it could be that money is not be available because it was spent earlier in the COVID response funds. Of course BIPOC organizations are more likely to be funded by those discretionary dollars.
- The fund should have a specific set of criteria that it can vet with its communities. Here are some examples of suggested criteria:
- Prioritize organizations that specifically name an intent to make the world better for BIPOC people in their core documents;
- Give based on capacity and history to make a difference for BIPOC people and not on budget size. Providing grants based on budget size is a structural way to advantage white organizations.
- Prioritize organizations that have significant representation of an intersection of BIPOC people.
- Prioritize organizations run by and serving Queer and Trans BIPOC people.
- Partner with an intermediary so collectives and individuals can get grants
- Prioritize organizations that demonstrate a commitment to disrupting systemic racism through word and deed.
- Prioritize organizations working on deepening their own analysis of oppression
- Among predominantly white organizations, prioritize those that can demonstrate that racism is something they have been addressing
- Use this opportunity as a practice to create a set of community supported principles that will guide the grantmaking going forward.
Offered as contribution to the larger discussion and work that is going on to take care of BIPOC artists and arts organizations and the discussion about how changes in this moment need to contribute to a deepening of justice in the nonprofit arts sector going forward.
While this is an offering I am making, I want to thank the Dodge Foundation for the opportunity given myself and Dragonfly Partners to work with them as they developed their equity framework. That opportunity gave the chance to offer and think through with colleagues what changes would be important to shift a portfolio towards greater fairness.
