Engage R+D Team
Equal Measure Team
Philanthropic Knowledge in a Changing World
Through its Knowledge for Better Philanthropy strategy, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation supports the development of high-quality knowledge to inform and improve philanthropic practice. In 2020, the Foundation partnered with Engage R+D and Equal Measure to follow up on a 2016 study of how funders find and use knowledge. This report sheds light on what information funders are seeking, which sources are most influential in creating change, and whose voices are included in the process.
Below, we share key findings from the report:
Funders are hungry for knowledge on DEI
“A big question we’ve been trying to think about is, ‘What does it mean to center equity as a foundation?’ That’s been a lot of internal and external work.”
In a year of public reckoning with systemic racism, funders were particularly interested in information on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The topic, which didn’t even register in the 2016 study, was the leading interest for funders in 2020. Their DEI needs were broad and nuanced, from those looking to spark conversations for the first time to those seeking to build community power and share decision-making. Not all groups, however, prioritized DEI equally—female and BIPOC executives, program staff (especially from larger foundations), and funders from community and independent foundations were more likely to report an interest in DEI than others.
Knowledge is still an insiders’ game
Want to know how you compare? Take the knowledge-seeker quiz.
The headline finding from 2016 was that funders turn to peers as their most trusted source for information on philanthropy, a trend that continued in 2020. Though colleagues can provide a relevant, relatable insider perspective, funders are also recognizing that this approach has the potential to breed groupthink and insularity. To balance this, funders often turned to a variety of sources for knowledge, from published research that helped them understand broad trends to grantees and subject matter specialists who provided community-specific and contextualized knowledge. While funders were substantially more likely to turn to peers than other sources, by drawing from a mix of sources funders can access a more nuanced and multi-layered understanding of philanthropic practice.
In the wake of COVID, funders are building a new normal
“We went back to our principles of listening to the communities most affected. We realized if we were going to be responsive and lead with their priorities, we needed to shift. And so we did.”
The 2016 study described how external events can catalyze change and help funders overcome traditional barriers to applying knowledge. The events of 2020, including the COVID pandemic and rise in attention to racial justice, were opportunities for funders to question the traditional ways of working and implement new, knowledge-informed practices. For example, as a result of the groundswell of attention to DEI, some funders said their organizations were exploring their internal processes and working more inclusively with communities. In other cases, funders took the opportunity to shift away from certain practices, such as easing the burden of extensive applications for grantees.
