Curiosity Is the Point

There’s something that happens when you’re in a room with people doing truly hard work.

Not hard in the busy and overwhelmed way (although that’s definitely real). But hard in the “holding community trauma while also holding community hope” way. Hard in the way that doesn’t always make it into the annual report, or social media post, or hallway conversation.

Earlier this week, I facilitated a conversation with a foundation client and some of their nonprofit partners. There were three nonprofits around the table — each of them deeply, relentlessly invested in their respective communities.

Together, we talked about partnership. We talked about what it looks like when funders genuinely show up. And about what feels different, and heavier, in communities right now. About what the next chapter of the funder-nonprofit relationship could look like if we’re intentional about building it.

I can’t stop thinking about those 90 minutes.

For a number of years, I was a funder. I loved my time leading the PIMCO Foundation, working with an incredible team, building things, learning, forming partnerships. It was one of the great privileges of my career. And it was a great responsibility, one I didn’t always get right.

The power in philanthropy is real. But the real power? It lies with communities. Funders need to fund…and then get out of the way. I know that’s easier said than done, especially when you’re navigating a traditional board with traditional expectations. But we’re living in a whole new world (I’m sure you know). And we can’t keep doing traditional.

If you’ve read Dimple Abichandani’s A New Era of Philanthropy, she makes exactly this case: that real partnership requires a fundamental shift in who holds power and who gets to lead.

That shift won’t happen on its own. It requires funders who are willing to examine their own power and practices, partners who feel safe enough to speak honestly, and conversations like the one I was lucky enough to be in this week.

There’s the work. 😉 Lucky for us, we can do it.

With love and appreciation,

Sarah

p.s. — Yours truly will be on spring break in two weeks, which means this newsletter will be, too. Word It Out and I will be back in your inboxes in four weeks. Bring on spring!

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👀 WHO’S CURIOUS?

The Eames Institute’s “Curious 100” just dropped (second year running!) and it’s definitely worth a look. This list celebrates a curated group of 100 leaders whose work embodies the transformative power of curiosity and creative problem-solving; it’s quite a diverse group spread across many different disciplines.

These leaders are grouped into 10 archetypes: Builders, Caretakers, Connectors, Creators, Curators, Explorers, Makers, Protectors, Reformers, and Storytellers.

I see some folks I know and follow on the list. How about you?

(May we all be curious, forever and ever!)

🥑 ADVANCING FOOD JUSTICE

Newman’s Own Foundation is accepting applications and nominations for its Food Justice for Kids Prize. The prize will award grants of up to $100k each over two years to as many as 14 nonprofits, Tribes, schools, and school districts working to ensure all children can access, learn about, and engage with nutritious and culturally relevant food.

Spread the word and learn all the details here.

📖 A BOOK ABOUT RUNNING AND MORE

I tore through Nicholas Thompson’s The Running Ground this past week. Yes, I’m a running nerd and love to read books about running, but this book is so much more than that.

Thompson writes about his running journey and also about his relationship with his father. It’s a quick read because Thompson pulls you along — and you float on his words.

One of my favorite quotes: “Running is the simplest of sports. But if we look closely, it can teach us about the hardest things in life.”

10 out of 10 recommend.

🧩 FROM WRITING TO DOING

Many of the ideas I share in this newsletter — about volunteering, philanthropy, social impact more broadly, etc. — also show up in my consulting work with companies, funders, and nonprofits. If you’d like to explore ways to work together, you can find more at Services - Mission Up.

💘 NONPROFIT LOVE

Launched in 2009, Code for America believes that government can work for the people, and by the people, in the new digital age. Code for America is our country’s leading civic tech nonprofit, partnering with community organizations and governments to build digital tools, change policies, and improve programs.

A couple sample projects:

• GetCalFresh: a portal to access food assistance programs in California that lowered the time to complete an application from 45 minutes to less than 10.

• Clear My Record: software that analyzes large datasets of criminal records and pinpoints records eligible to be erased or dismissed in certain states.

Check out more cool success stories here. Take a podcast spin here. Scope out events here. Or start here and read all the things.