Understanding Participatory Grantmaking

Engaging with grantmakers can be intimidating. Nonprofits can feel overwhelmed navigating the complex world of funding requirements, application processes, and relationship building. At SJPLA, we have a unique vantage point as both a grantmaker and a grant seeker. 

Grantmaking distributes funds to support projects, initiatives, or programs that align with a funder’s mission, and it can be a powerful mechanism for redistributing wealth and driving change. However, traditional grantmaking processes can often be inaccessible and limiting for potential grantees.

Participatory grantmaking is reshaping this conventional model.

What is participatory grantmaking?

It's a shift in power dynamics. Participatory grantmaking processes engage those who are directly affected by the issues at hand in the decision-making process.

Why participatory grantmaking? What benefits does this approach offer?

It works toward democratizing grantmaking and nurtures shared ownership of solutions. The results challenge the status quo and ensure that the people closest to the problem have a say in the solutions. 

Participatory grantmaking opens the gates of philanthropy to a broader and more diverse range of voices. It’s a call to action for funders to step off the podium and engage in meaningful dialogue with the community.

SJPLA Community Engagement Coordinator Michelle Dominguez at the LA2050 Celebration Launch

SJPLA has had the opportunity to design and facilitate a number of participatory grantmaking processes, including serving as the evaluation partner for the LA2050 Grants Challenge. These experiences give us the opportunity to bring our community together to collectively review and recommend initiatives for funding.

We have also been experimenting with a participatory approach since 2019 when we started a new application process for our Systems Change Accelerator. In rethinking the traditional application process, we turned to a strategy workshop model instead of an extensive written application. This was a step towards centering proximity, equity, and the wisdom of those closest to the issues, embodying the principles of participatory grantmaking. 

We're always on the lookout for individuals curious and passionate about participatory grantmaking. If you're interested in this approach, we encourage you to learn more about our LA2050 Evaluation committee and engage directly with this transformative approach.

We're proud to be part of this shift in grantmaking and have witnessed the transformative potential of this approach, creating a deeper, more profound impact in our communities.  Participatory grantmaking is a call to reconfigure power dynamics in philanthropy and to value lived experiences as much as institutional knowledge. If you’re a funder and want to explore how you could partner with SJPLA to incorporate participatory grantmaking in your processes, please learn more about our Philanthropic Consulting.