How to talk to donors about white supremacy, capitalism, systemic racism, and wealth hoarding
As someone focused on community-centric fundraising models and equitable philanthropy, one of the challenges you might face is how to talk about white supremacy, capitalism, systemic racism, and wealth hoarding. These topics can be difficult to navigate for many white fundraisers and donors, especially if either party is not familiar with the issues or if they have different perspectives. However, having these conversations is crucial if you want to create a more inclusive and equitable sector and society.
In this blog post, I'll share four tips on how to prepare for these conversations and tackle them in a productive way.
Prepare yourself
Before engaging in these conversations, it's important to educate yourself on the issues and be familiar with the facts and data related to them. If your lived experience is not aligned with what your service users face, seek out information to have a more knowledgeable and confident conversation. You should fully understand how systemic issues impact your service users and the broader nonprofit sector. Ideally, you can also speak to the intersectionality of your communities, how broader systemic issues (outside of your organization’s mission) impact these communities, and the importance of policy changes.
For example, if you are working for an organization that supports the reintegration of formerly-incarcerated individuals, you will want to highlight the specific systemic barriers formerly-incarcerated individuals face to reintegration. To push it further, you may look at the percentages of racialized individuals who are incarcerated, and begin to talk about systemic racism in policing, which communities receive support and funds, the prison-industrial complex, or a variety of other issues.
Focus on mutual understanding and the impact of the issues
Approach the conversation with sensitivity and understanding. Be aware of the emotions that can come up for donors when discussing these topics. By knowing the possible outcomes, you can prepare for what the next steps are in that relationship. Have a frank and honest conversation about how these systems have an impact on the lives of your service users and how we can work together to create positive change.
Offer solutions and resources to the donors that they can use to help bring about change or to learn more. Personally, I have found that donors are already deeply engaging with thoughts around wealth, privilege, and oppression in philanthropy, in society, and in their lives. More often than not, you will not be introducing them to these topics, but providing additional education.
If you feel unsure about how to tackle these conversations, use the information you gathered and role-play with a colleague. Ask them to be curious about what you are saying and to ask questions. Your role will be to assess where they are in their learning and educate them on anything they need to fully understand your mission.
Share personal stories
Personal stories can be a powerful way to illustrate the impact of these issues and engage donors emotionally. We know this. We use stories in fundraising all the time to effect change or solicit a reaction. The same skillset can be applied to building true allyship and partnership between a donor and your community. Consider sharing stories from individuals who have been affected by the systemic issues you are discussing, or who have themselves perpetuated harm in some way. For example, you could tell the donor a story of a time when you did something harmful and the steps you took to correct that, learn more, and grow as a person.
Use your privilege or get a buddy to step in
If a donor is saying something problematic or acting in a way not aligned with your values, step in and let them know your thoughts. If you have more privilege than your colleagues, this is an excellent way to show allyship and take on the emotional burden of explaining systemic issues that may personally affect them.
If the donor’s lack of understanding ties directly to your lived experience and is triggering you, tap into another person with positional privilege. This may be a colleague who doesn’t share that lived experience or your ED. An example would be if a fundraiser was continuously dead-named or misgendered by a donor. In this situation, assess if the donor is willing to be educated, and seek out a person who is in a position of authority or influence who can mediate and advocate for a positive outcome. More options include someone from the donor's own social circle, a board member or director from the organization, or a respected leader in the community. Reaching out to a third party can provide a safe space for dialogue and can help to ensure that the conversation is respectful and productive. If the donor is not willing to be educated or is intentionally harmful, the organization should take steps to end the relationship.
Talking to donors about sensitive issues doesn’t need to be scary - we are all on the same team! Building true partnerships is essential if you want to create a more inclusive and equitable sector. By following these tips, you can have a productive with donors about these important issues. Remember to prepare yourself, focus on mutual understanding and impact, share personal stories, and use your privilege or get a buddy to step in if necessary.
