“I want to tell my peers who resist trust-based shifts: the field is evolving, we need to stop talking about risk and start listening to what our nonprofit partners want and need. There’s sector change happening, and it’s both past-due and important work.” -Suzanne Geary

“We can use our privilege to maintain the status quo, or create on-ramps to thriving communities and collective power.” -Julio Marcial

“We need to change how we think about those who control the wealth and resources and those leading the work to achieve systemic change and racial justice.” -Isabel Sousa Rodriguez

“As we continue to live into our trust-based values and practices, we see how this philosophy must extend beyond our grantmaking.” -Emily Johnston and Grace Pesch

“Losing the restrictions on our grants doesn’t mean losing our ability to track the impact of our grant recipients.” -Rehana Farrell, Lauren Elicks McCort, & Taylor Wright

“If foundations are worried about siloing in the nonprofit sector, why do foundations insist on operating in their own silos?” -Henry Rael

“If we genuinely listen to communities, there are no boundaries to what can be achieved.” -Alexandra Hertell

“Before we hold grantees accountable, we must hold ourselves accountable as funders.” -Jill Miller

“How do we center the importance of trust without centering ourselves in the power dynamic that comes with being the funder?” -Mailee Walker & Andrea Bretting

“Our best grantmaking has happened not because of a strategy developed internally, but because we operate as a site of shifted power to begin with.” -Jenn Ching

“As we became more public about trust-based philanthropy, our board raised critical questions that made me wonder if they were fully bought in.” -Pia Infante

“When I gave up some of my own personal power, we became a more powerful organization.” -John Esterle

“Ecosystems of trust form a strong network that allow us to move nimbly and make impact happen when it’s needed.” -Philip Li

“Just like we had to reexamine our grantmaking to build trust, we also had to reimagine our learning and evaluation to find more authentic and meaningful ways of articulating change.” -Corey Oser

“Satisfaction has never been higher on our program team. With more access to connection, value, and depth, we are more rewarded in our work than ever.” -Brittney Gaspari

“For us, evaluation is tied to the self-determination of communities and what they mean by success, not using our jargony words of ‘impact.’” -John Brothers

“When we approach mistakes with a spirit of humility and curiosity, that’s where the trust comes in.” -Carrie Avery