It Begins With Us: An Equity Assessment Tool for Collaborative Funds

Collaborative funds provide an essential function: the bridging of the philanthropic and social change ecosystems. These organizations act not only as resource mobilizers, but also field weavers, political educators, and donor organizers. And in occupying these manifold roles, which encompass big work — work that strengthens and extends the impact of our movements — they have a moral obligation to act in ways that align with our stated values: inclusivity, equity, and justice.

This Equity Assessment Tool is intended to support collaborative funds in being accountable to this charge. The exploratory questions and checklists offered here are designed to support intermediary and collaborative funds in interrogating our systems, getting clear on what it means to operationalize equity, and centering people at every turn.

This offering was co-produced by Borealis Philanthropy and Philanthropy Together, and informed by the leadership and brilliance of members of Philanthropy Together’s Collaboratives Braintrust. 

It Begins With Us: An Equity Assessment Tool for Collaborative Funds