What Radical Grantmaking Can Teach Us About Funding With Integrity.

In a SXSW session that challenged traditional power structures in philanthropy, leaders from The Waymakers Collective, Justice Funders, the Ford Foundation, and All Here Together Productions asked us to rethink how we give — and who gets to decide.

This wasn’t a conversation about how to get more money into community. It was about what happens when we centre community at the core of the funding process itself.

Here are the key ideas that are still resonating with me — and why they matter for founders, funders, and anyone working in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

1. From Generosity to Justice

The Ford Foundation called for a shift — away from top-down generosity and toward a practice of justice. Too often, philanthropy is disconnected from the communities it aims to support.

Their message was clear: Invest in models that support self-determination. That means not just funding communities but trusting them to lead, decide, and allocate.

2. Reimagining the Power of the Endowment

Lora Smith from Justice Funders made a powerful point: While foundations sit on massive endowments, that capital is often invested in companies or sectors doing direct harm to the very communities those foundations aim to support.

Radical giving means examining not just what we give but also where our money lives and how it works in the world.

3. The Waymakers Model: Voting Rights for Grantees

The Waymakers Collective doesn’t just give grants. It invites grantees into a voting membership community with the right to help determine future funding decisions.

Some even join steering committees. Others receive $2,000 “radical rest” grants. If recipients don’t need the funds, they can grant them to others, inviting new members into the network.

Its mutual aid meets long-term sustainability. 

And it’s working.

4. Hybrid Funding & Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

A question raised during the session struck a deep chord: What if our philanthropic strategy included hybrid capital — part grant, part repayable — to support entrepreneurial ventures and refill the pool for those who follow?

Many of the founders I work with would love access to this model. I am confident it is one of the few ways we can fund at the speed of innovation and honour our values of equity and stewardship.

5. Global Solidarity, Local Protection

There was also discussion about international grantmaking — especially when local efforts are at risk of government interference.

This raised the question: Can aligned international funds act as a buffer or lifeline for grassroots organisations under threat?

It’s an idea that shows how powerful interconnected justice funding can be if we’re bold enough to think beyond borders.

Closing Thought: Funding is a Form of Power — and an Invitation

This session reminded me that funding isn’t just a transaction. It’s an invitation into a new kind of relationship — one that values trust, lived experience, and long-term connection.

We talk a lot about being “founder-first.” What if we were also community-first? And what if that wasn’t just a slogan — but a practice?

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