Trees, Water & People (TWP) , an environmental nonprofit based in Fort Collins, is excited to announce the launch of “In the Right Hands,” a short film that explores the importance and impact of trust-based philanthropy. The 10-minute film will be available for viewing on TWP’s website (twp.org/trust) starting Oct. 17. A trailer and short description of the film will be available on Oct. 9.
Trust-based philanthropy is a growing movement and practice in the philanthropic sector that encourages authentic donor-grantee relationships, unrestricted and long-term grant structures and more flexible reporting requirements. Ultimately, trust-based philanthropy seeks to reduce burdens upon nonprofits and other grantees and facilitate investment in more long-term, systemic change by allowing communities greater autonomy and flexibility in the use of funding.
Though these practices are not entirely new, the concept of trust-based philanthropy became more formalized under the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project and gained further momentum following the COVID-19 pandemic, which demonstrated the need for more flexible funding structures. With a foundation of trust-based funding, TWP has been able to support long-term, transformational outcomes in communities and hopes to be part of broader shifts in philanthropy through creation of “In the Right Hands.”
TWP’s film features interviews with philanthropic leaders, funders and community members, as well as footage of TWP’s work, to convey the importance of trust-based funding. By exploring the challenges of conventional grantmaking structures and highlighting the impact of trust-based approaches, the film encourages philanthropists to engage in more equitable funding practices. Shifting the ways in which funding is allocated is crucial for creating lasting change in the communities nonprofits seek to serve.