Today’s Movement Leaders Share Lessons from the Freedom Funders

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posted on: November 5, 2014

freedomfunderswebinar_10-3-14On October 23, NCRP hosted “Freedom Funders Then and Now: What Lessons Foundations Can Learn from Philanthropy during the Civil Rights Era,” a webinar based on NCRP’s report on the four foundations that helped fund leading civil rights movement organizations in the decade before the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The presentation, moderated by NCRP’s Jeanné Isler (@j_lachapel), featured:

Jeanné opened the presentation with a family anecdote that illustrates the need for philanthropy that supports the protection of civil rights. Back in ’60s, her grandfather had to memorize parts of Louisiania’s constitution to register to vote in that state – a disheartening example of the voting restrictions of that time. Even today, Jeanné herself has had trouble voting, and recognizes that, “many people in our country, unfortunately, have similar stories.”

Our first panelist was Dr. Greer, who delved into the New World Foundation’s ongoing commitment to funding advocacy and organizing work. In his words, the foundation operates from a “grassroots framework with a commitment to having ears and eyes on the ground.” This strategy hearkens back to the quick and nimble work of philanthropy during the civil rights movement, in stark contrast to how slow and bureaucratic grantmaking can be now. Despite more than 40 years of fighting for civil rights, Dr. Greer admits that the New World Foundation is “not winning.” Dr. Greer sees the biggest challenge for philanthropy today as rightwing retrenchment – a problem that foundations must continue to address by funding those on the ground.

Next, Gara LaMarche also explored the differences between the social movements of yesterday and today, characterizing the Freedom Freedoms as having both more clarity of vision and daring than funders operating today. LaMarche explains that there’s some truth to the joke that Martin Luther King wouldn’t get funded today – after all, he didn’t have a business plan. He sees foundations as entities that can do more than just hand out money to movement-builders – they can also be partners. In particular, LaMarche laments growing income inequality in America, his pick for our society’s leading civil rights issue.

Our final speaker, Judith Browne Dianis, described the Advancement Project as a “next-generation, multi-racial civil rights organization that works with grassroots movements.” In reading the Freedom Funders paper, she realized that her organization’s theory of change model was completely influenced by the organizations of the civil rights movement, relying on the power of small organizations – often supported by too-small grants – to enact big changes. “Organizing in communities of color can topple even the worst structures of oppression and racism, and that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they are fighting for their freedom.”

Thanks again to our panelists, for so thoughtfully examining how foundations can learn from the Freedom Funders of the civil rights movement. We invite you to learn more, too – listen to the webinar recording and read the paper!


Alison Howard is a communications associate at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Follow @NCRP on Twitter.