You’re Invited to Join Participatory Grantmaking at WFMN

The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM) has engaged in participatory grantmaking since its founding in 1983. Participatory philanthropy is a method to disrupt philanthropy by building collectivism and power directly with statewide communities. Participatory methods use WFM’s Intersectional Equity Framework to produce innovative initiatives that begin to dismantle white supremacy while building sustainability and capacity for individuals and organizations. WFM believes equity in process results in equity in outcomes. One way, we put equity into design is through participatory grantmaking that engages individuals most impacted by gender and racial inequities in funding decisions that affect their communities.

Why Participatory Grantmaking?

WFM knows that problems and solutions are found in the same place. Communities that experience systemic barriers are the most qualified and have the most expertise to provide solutions for systems change. Engaging communities who experience barriers in funding decisions increases WFM’s impact and effectiveness to address inequities. In addition, WFM uses participatory grantmaking to bring together WFM’s community of stakeholders across race and ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status to support and invest in a shared vision of gender and racial justice in Minnesota.

Application Deadline: Monday, June 3, at 11:59 p.m.

After you submit your application, we will invite you to schedule a brief 15-minute call to learn more about you and your interest in participating on the committee.

Participatory Grantmaking Framework
Four WFM funds serve a vital role in creating systems change. To engage gender and racial justice in transforming harmful systems, we root our process in transparency, intentionality, and building community trust and partnership. WFM seeks to represent Minnesota’s diverse communities as it leads with equity and justice to create solutions that are inclusive for all women, girls, and gender-expansive people.

Goals & Responsibilities
WFM stakeholders use the Intersectional Equity Framework to engage with the most pressing issues in our communities, listen, and create meaningful social change through grantmaking. To create a strong grantmaking committee, WFM will ensure that representation from our programs and participating communities is reflective of the diverse statewide communities we serve. Each committee member will provide thought-leadership and community expertise as part of their role.

Committee members should:

• Contextualize topics of gender and racial justice through an intersectional lens
• Understand the current challenges and obstacles relevant for your communities
• Be familiar with WFM’s Intersectional Equity Framework, strategic plan, & impact areas
• Be passionate about serving your community
• Advise staff on community investments

Composition for Grantmaking Committees:
To ensure we have diverse community perspectives, each grantmaking committee will include a program alumni, a grantee-partner from the past three years, a community leader, a donor-partner, a trustee, and a staff member. A young person (age 16+) will be part of the Young Women’s Committee.

Young Women’s Committee (10 – 11 people)
Community Power Committee (8-9 people)

Committee members will focus on different grantmaking funds. Please note these dates for your required participation:

• Orientation Day & Training July 11, 12 – 1:30 p.m.
• Summer Social July 11, 4-6 p.m. (in-person at WFM office)
• We Thrive Grantmaking Day September (TBD), 5-7 p.m.
• Community Response Grantmaking Day November 20, 5-7 p.m.
• Safety Site Visits December 4-5, 12-4 p.m.
• Holistic Well-being & Reproductive Justice Grantmaking Day January 2025 (TBD)

Dates for the second year of the term will be shared in May 2025.

Commitment
Grantmaking committee members participate on a two-year term with each grantmaking committee. At the end of each term, committee members will have an option to recommit for one more term. Committee members can serve a maximum of two consecutive participatory grantmaking terms (four years). During each term, committee members will participate in grantmaking training, site visits, and grantmaking days.

Benefits

• 50 hours of professional development
• Amazing WFM swag
• Access to WFM’s news, events, & social network
• Opportunity to get paid for participation
• Make innovative investments that drive systems change for gender and racial justice