Grantmakers for Southern Progress (GSP) has just released “As the South Goes: Philanthropy and Social Justice in the US South” – a research project on the landscape of social justice philanthropy in the US South. The study involved interviews with over 75 national, regional, and local funders (some who self-identify as social justice funders, some who do not), and it offers critical reflection on how to advance stronger communication and collaboration among funders within the South and between Southern and national funders in support of social justice work.
The study reveals fascinating challenges regarding how national and Southern funders talk about the work of social justice. (See the short companion report — Words Matter: Language and Social Justice Funding in the US South.) It also explores the knotty issue that despite real common ground on interests, sometimes narrow views of what makes for social justice strategies can get in the way of collaboration. In addition, the study provides an analysis of why some funders prioritize investment in the South and why others do not. Key takeaways are:
• There is a great need to increase social justice work in the South to improve social, economic and political outcomes for impoverished and marginalized communities, regionally and nationally.
• The barriers that limit funders’ support of social justice work in the South can be overcome.
• The opportunities for strategic partnerships between and among Southern and national funders on social justice work are abundant, but they require deeper listening and relationship building, as well as moving beyond comfort zones regarding strategy and capacity building.
GSP is a working group affiliated with Neighborhood Funders Group and dedicated to increasing philanthropy for social justice and social change in the US South. For more information, contact Julie Mooney: SouthernProgress@nfg.org or 919.698.7722.