Funder Grantee Relationship Series: Examining Power Dynamics

Led by the UpMetrics team, our interactive two-part Funder-Grantee Relationship series took a deep dive into the complex power dynamics of the funder-grantee relationship. Participants walked away from both days with key tools to help foster understanding, empathy, and collaboration within their grantee relationships.

Keep reading to learn more and access resources from the sessions!

Part One: Getting Grounded

On Thursday, March 7th, we kicked things off by grounding attendees in the history of funding practices. We tackled the sometimes-uncomfortable power imbalances that exist between funders and grantees, including tips on how to best navigate those relationships. Through engaging group work and reflection, attendees walked away with actionable next steps, and even discussed the fun idea of taking grantees on a “date” to get to know them better as people!

Missed it or want a refresher? Check out the slides from Part One here.

 

Part Two: Deepening the Dialogue

We reconvened on Thursday, May 16th to reflect on the progress made since our first session. Participants engaged in rich dialogue about their roles in the social change ecosystem and the steps they had taken. We dived into the concept of impact measurement, evaluating how programs and initiatives meet goals and deliver benefits to their target audiences. Our conversations also highlighted the importance of humility and integrity as funders, and how to put all these concepts into practice.

You can access the slides from Part Two here and use this worksheet here to activate your mindset and advance your mission.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and reflections: whether you attended the session, or are seeing this content for the first time, please contact us to keep the conversation going.

We hope to see you at future events!