As part of the small nonprofit on peace and justice issues, I’ve seen this happening, but I did not have the words to name it or identify it until now. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing that. It means a lot to know the words helped give shape to something you’ve been experiencing. So many of us feel these tensions in our work but don’t always have the language to name them, and that’s part of what keeps the cycle going. You’re not alone!
I appreciate this article so much! Given the current climate, I've been thinking about how to support the organizations, individuals, and initiatives that mean the most to me and undergoing some serious shifting due to these ridiculous funding cuts. I've also wanted to start a foundation for a couple of years now but have been hesitant because I didn't want to do this grant-seeking song and dance routine. This gives me a solid approach now to funding these key community projects that I have jotted down in my notebook. Bless you!
Chandra, thank you so much for reading. I’m glad you found this to be helpful and a good starting point! Wishing you all the positive energy and alignment as you support the orgs, individuals and initiatives that mean the most to you.
How can we talk about community leadership when there is still so much uncertainty about where we are headed? Who decides who holds power in our communities? And how do we make sure that power is not misused? History has shown us a complex pattern with figures like MLK, BLM leaders, Farrakhan, Sharpton, and Obama. Some were uplifted, some were silenced, some misused their platforms, and some were taken out for speaking too boldly. Even those who gained real influence often had to make compromises that did not always serve us fully. It can feel like we are stuck. No matter what path we take, there always seems to be a cost.
Monte, you raised some very important and necessary questions! When thinking specifically about the Black community and Black-led movements, our struggles are often uplifted in brief, symbolic moments, silenced when deemed no longer relevant, and pressured to compromise in order to be heard. History shows that centralized power can be both transformative and susceptible to misuse.
That’s why I think community leadership must be rooted in collective power, not concentrated authority. It cannot depend on a single voice or figure. True leadership is about shared responsibility, mutual accountability, and decision-making guided by those closest to the work. Community philanthropy reflects this approach. It redistributes power, centers lived experience, and builds leadership through relationships rather than hierarchy. No model is perfect, but the cost of inaction or relying on top-down models is a disservice to the work.
We don’t need perfect leaders, but we do need courageous and accountable communities. That requires staying open to how leadership evolves, knowing that what worked before may not work now, and what works now may need to change in the future.
Thank you for reading, Frankiem! You're so right about the hiring processes asking candidates to essentially compromise their integrity to protect funding. It’s wild how much the system rewards image over actual impact, and how often frontline folks are left with little to nothing while funds sit at the top, untouched.
What you said about grant cycles and deliverables being shaped for numbers and image is spot on, too. I think so many of us have internalized how things don’t feel right without always knowing how to name it. But naming it is powerful, and conversations like this remind me that we’re not alone in seeing through the façade!
As part of the small nonprofit on peace and justice issues, I’ve seen this happening, but I did not have the words to name it or identify it until now. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing that. It means a lot to know the words helped give shape to something you’ve been experiencing. So many of us feel these tensions in our work but don’t always have the language to name them, and that’s part of what keeps the cycle going. You’re not alone!
This resonates with so much of my experience working in philanthropy. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading, and I’m glad you were able to connect with my work!
I appreciate this article so much! Given the current climate, I've been thinking about how to support the organizations, individuals, and initiatives that mean the most to me and undergoing some serious shifting due to these ridiculous funding cuts. I've also wanted to start a foundation for a couple of years now but have been hesitant because I didn't want to do this grant-seeking song and dance routine. This gives me a solid approach now to funding these key community projects that I have jotted down in my notebook. Bless you!
Chandra, thank you so much for reading. I’m glad you found this to be helpful and a good starting point! Wishing you all the positive energy and alignment as you support the orgs, individuals and initiatives that mean the most to you.
How can we talk about community leadership when there is still so much uncertainty about where we are headed? Who decides who holds power in our communities? And how do we make sure that power is not misused? History has shown us a complex pattern with figures like MLK, BLM leaders, Farrakhan, Sharpton, and Obama. Some were uplifted, some were silenced, some misused their platforms, and some were taken out for speaking too boldly. Even those who gained real influence often had to make compromises that did not always serve us fully. It can feel like we are stuck. No matter what path we take, there always seems to be a cost.
Monte, you raised some very important and necessary questions! When thinking specifically about the Black community and Black-led movements, our struggles are often uplifted in brief, symbolic moments, silenced when deemed no longer relevant, and pressured to compromise in order to be heard. History shows that centralized power can be both transformative and susceptible to misuse.
That’s why I think community leadership must be rooted in collective power, not concentrated authority. It cannot depend on a single voice or figure. True leadership is about shared responsibility, mutual accountability, and decision-making guided by those closest to the work. Community philanthropy reflects this approach. It redistributes power, centers lived experience, and builds leadership through relationships rather than hierarchy. No model is perfect, but the cost of inaction or relying on top-down models is a disservice to the work.
We don’t need perfect leaders, but we do need courageous and accountable communities. That requires staying open to how leadership evolves, knowing that what worked before may not work now, and what works now may need to change in the future.
Thank you for reading, Frankiem! You're so right about the hiring processes asking candidates to essentially compromise their integrity to protect funding. It’s wild how much the system rewards image over actual impact, and how often frontline folks are left with little to nothing while funds sit at the top, untouched.
What you said about grant cycles and deliverables being shaped for numbers and image is spot on, too. I think so many of us have internalized how things don’t feel right without always knowing how to name it. But naming it is powerful, and conversations like this remind me that we’re not alone in seeing through the façade!