Trust-Based Philanthropy: What If Fewer Strings Meant Stronger Results?
By Dawnn Leery, Senior Director Grants & Strategic Initiatives
Most of us give the way we were taught to give: fund a specific project, ask for a report, and check the accountability box. It feels responsible. It often isn't measuring what we think it's measuring.
But what if fewer restrictions — not more — actually led to stronger outcomes?
That's the question at the center of our next Foundation FUNDamentals session, where we're digging into trust-based philanthropy — an approach that's reshaping how funders, from major foundations to individual donors, think about power, partnership, and what real accountability looks like.
What Is Trust-Based Philanthropy?
According to the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, the approach is about addressing the built-in power imbalance between funders and nonprofits. Rather than positioning funders as gatekeepers, it treats them as partners working alongside nonprofits to meet the needs of the communities furthest from traditional power structures — shifting decision-making power, not just dollars.
A few misconceptions worth clearing up before we go further:
"Fewer requirements means less accountability." - Trust-based philanthropy reframes accountability as mutual — funders are expected to be responsive and transparent too, not just grantees.
"There's no due diligence." - Due diligence still happens; what changes is how funders think about and respond to risk, rather than defaulting to restriction as the safeguard.
"It means trusting nonprofits unconditionally." - Trust here is a starting point for a deeper, more transparent relationship — not a substitute for judgment.
"Unrestricted funding alone makes an approach trust-based." - Unrestricted dollars can still be deployed in ways that aren't trust-based — it's the practices, not the funding mechanism, that define the approach.
Six Core Practices That Define Trust-Based Philanthropy
Give multi-year, unrestricted funding. Nonprofit work is long-term; unrestricted, multi-year support gives organizations room to respond in real time to what communities actually need.
Do the homework. Instead of expecting grantees to find and pitch every funder, trust-based funders take on the responsibility of researching and understanding prospective partners themselves.
Simplify and streamline paperwork. Look for ways to reduce the burden on applicants — for example, accepting an application or report a nonprofit has already prepared for another funder.
Be transparent and responsive. Open, honest communication — including about a funder's own decision-making — builds relationships rooted in trust and mutual accountability.
Solicit and act on feedback. Grantees and communities hold valuable perspective that can and should shape a funder's strategy. Philanthropy doesn't have all the answers.
Offer support beyond the check. Funding is one form of support, not the only one — access to networks and other resources can matter just as much.
Where to Start & Why It Matters
If you're a donor or fundholder, starting small is the point, not a shortcoming. Reflect before committing to a practice, be patient with the shift, and stay flexible as you learn what works for your giving. Multi-year unrestricted support and accepting an application already submitted elsewhere are two of the easiest places to begin.
If you're a nonprofit, this shift matters because it changes what funders should be asking of you — and what you can reasonably ask of them in return. Knowing the language of trust-based philanthropy gives you a way to name what a healthier funding relationship looks like, whether or not a given funder has adopted the practices yet.
Trust-based philanthropy isn't about giving up judgment or writing blank checks. It's about asking a harder question: are the people and organizations closest to a problem in the best position to solve it? If the answer is yes — and for most nonprofits doing the work, it is — then maybe it's time to rethink how we show up as funders.
Foundation FUNDamentals: Trust-Based Philanthropy — From Principle to Practice 📅 August 25, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. Hosted by the Greater Washington Community Foundation for Fundholders of The Community Foundation
Can't make it live? A recording of the presentation portion will be shared afterward.