What's Keeping Funding From Reaching the Right Places?

When we spoke with me too. founder & organizer Tarana Burke last month, we heard all about the ways that working-class people of color were the ones who sustained the me too. movement in its early days. So what's keeping funding from reaching the people most directly impacted by oppression?

We chatted with Resource Generation member Holly Fetter to learn more about how people with wealth need to align their giving with their values by taking risks on emerging organizations and movements.

Third Wave Fund: In our interview with Tarana Burke, we landed on the question, what would happen if the me too. movement were fully funded since day one? What do you think keeps funding from reaching the right places?

Holly Fetter: Some donors and funders aren’t willing to take risks on “bright ideas,” to use Tarana’s words.

They don’t take a chance on emerging movements like "me too." or bold leaders like Tarana. And I think a lot of that is due to racism and classism — many donors and funders only want to invest their money in people and organizations that feel familiar, comfortable, trustworthy.

I think about this a lot with donors, since you see wealthy people investing millions into the most ridiculous ideas for startups that go nowhere, and then when it comes to funding new organizations or activists it’s all, “Ooooh but are they are 501(c)3? Do they have fancy materials and credentials? Do they have any concrete wins or metrics of success we can point to?”

People with access to wealth need to learn how to actually trust people most impacted by oppression to lead. I’m definitely proud to be part of donor communities like Solidaire and Resource Generation that gravitate toward taking risks in order to help powerful social movements get off the ground.

"Those of us who are enriched by Trump’s tax plan
need to use those gains to invest in movements
to change the​very systems that make us rich."
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TWF: Today is Tax Day in the United States -- as a person with wealth, what are your views on taxes and philanthropy?

HF: Taxes are critical to funding public and social services, and they’re one of the only ways to compel wealthy people to invest our resources in the collective. Trump’s tax plan gives an estimated $21,000 tax cut to already-wealthy individuals in the United States, increasing their after-tax income by 4.3 percent.

After signing the tax bill, Trump literally told his friends at Mar-a-lago, “You all just got a lot richer.” Those of us who are enriched by Trump’s tax plan need to use those gains to invest in movements to change the very systems that make us rich.

TWF: If someone asked you for advice on how to give away their money so as to have the most impact, what would you say?

HF: I would point them to the social justice philanthropy principles compiled by Resource Generation. I would also advise them to invest in organizations and campaigns led by people most directly impacted by oppression, and to ask themselves whether their donation is really addressing the root causes of social, economic, and environmental injustices.
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"Quantitative metrics in philanthropy can suggest
that a campaign or organization has achieved scale, but they don’t ​always indicate real impact."

TWF: As a donor, what do you think about the notion of "impact?"

HF: Quantitative metrics in philanthropy can suggest that a campaign or organization has achieved scale, but they don’t always indicate real impact.

It can be tempting to just follow the trendy organizations, leaders, and issues, as Tarana pointed out. Impact with social movements is often long term, difficult to measure through quantitative metrics, and collaborative. Some system of measurement is important, but we need to stop expecting “results” on a one-year timeline that can be measured easily.

TWF: Why do you give to Third Wave Fund?

HF: I believe in the power of youth organizing and in centering the most marginalized voices and visions in my giving.

I want to invest my resources in the leadership of young LGBTQ people and people of color.

I love that Third Wave takes risks to invest in campaigns, programs, and leaders who have the deepest connection to the issues and the clearest path forward. Also, Third Wave Fund parties are super fun!

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Make a gift to Third Wave Fund today to support the leadership of young women, queer and trans youth of color in philanthropy.