In Minnesota, Philanthropy Is Coming Alive In a Leaderful Movement
Meanwhile, those we have called "leaders" are not leading at all. So what can we learn from what's happening here?
Today we’re talking about philanthropy. We’re talking about leadership. We’re talking about the ones who officially hold roles in “philanthropy” or “leadership” in Minnesota — and how they have been lacking in both things. And we’re talking about how a whole new kind of philanthropy is being seeded and grown here. Let’s get to it….
For You: Today’s Main Course
We know philanthropy.
This is who we humans are.
Gather a group of us together. Consciously cultivate a culture of care and solidarity: where everyone knows that they’re not alone — that if they need help, their people will show up for them.
Then leave us to live alongside each other…
… and watch the magic happen.
When humans gather together, and care about each other, and work together to prioritize their collective well-being, gathering resources for the good of all is a natural result of their relationships with each other.
We can’t help ourselves.
This is what we do, when we’re grounded in our own humanity… and unwilling to de-humanize any of the other humans around us.
The roots of the word philanthropy are Greek: philos, meaning love (think Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love”), and anthropos, meaning humanity (think anthropology, or the scientific study of humanity).
“Philanthropy” means “love of humanity.”
And yet…
… the way our dominant culture has grown to use this word is…
… not that.
Typically, these days, philanthropy means big money. Fancy galas. Elitism. Power-hoarding. Generational wealth. Names on buildings. Massive endowments invested in a corporate stock market that extracts value from humanity and the natural world, rather than funding them or protecting them. An “industry” full of credentials and career tracks and ever-developing proximity to power. Logic models. “Best practices.” Top-down decision-making. Donors prioritizing what gets funded… vs. givers responding to community needs and requests.
I could go on.
But I hope you can see how far what we currently understand as “philanthropy” is from… a true philanthropy.
Having worked within this field of professionalized philanthropy for nearly two decades — and repeatedly seen the many gnarly dynamics I’ve named here — I can’t tell you how good it’s been for my heart to live in Minneapolis over the past weeks… and to see how my neighbors are responding to a shock-and-awe, violent occupation… by caring for each other.
We could have turned on each other.
We could have looked out for number one.
We could have “minded our own business.”
But did we do those things?
No.
We showed up for each other. We put our bodies on the line. We bought and delivered food for each other. We did each others’ laundry. We looked out for each other. We blew whistles to keep each other safe. We helped each other pay rent. We gave each other rides. We sang with each other. We gathered for potlucks. We grew stronger relationships.
We loved each other.
Again and again.
And while the regular citizens of Minnesota actively, powerfully practiced philanthropy in these ways…
… what did the “industry” we’ve called “philanthropy” for decades do?
Next to nothing.
Official Leadership Fails to Lead
Corporate philanthropy in the form of much-needed financial support was not only non-existent… but those philanthropies’ parent corporations said absolutely nothing — for weeks — in response to their home communities being violently occupied and terrorized. They even allowed their properties to be used by the occupiers — and their own employees to be kidnapped and assaulted. And then, when they finally put out a statement, it was so late… and milquetoast… as to be absolutely meaningless.
Institutional philanthropy barely gave a squeak. The Minneapolis Foundation has responded by distributing over $1.8 million to nonprofits for food and housing assistance (which is of course needed… but is a drop in the bucket of vast need). Additionally, they mobilized $3.5 million to create an Economic Response Fund to support small businesses, particularly those with immigrant owners facing severe disruptions and revenue loss (which, again, is needed… but is nowhere near as much as is needed). The other major local community foundation — the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation — might have announced some support but, even being a professional in this world, I don’t remember what it was, and, in a cursory search while writing this, I couldn’t even find any record of it. The Women’s Foundation’s Immigrant Rapid Response Fund (IRRF) granted $5.7 million to 54 organizations. They say that another $4 million in donations from around the globe will continue to be granted until all funds are distributed. Again, that’s great… and it barely puts a dent in the need. Other foundations mobilized funds in smaller amounts or for specific purposes, but none of the mobilization has been at the enormous scale of capital needed — and that, frankly, these organizations are all sitting on in the form of endowments full of stock market and other investments.
Meanwhile, the governmental response has been anemic. No aid from the governor, despite weeks of pleas from residents. No aid from the legislature or senate, who are deep into this year’s session now, focused on having committee meetings and meeting with constituents, and thus they won’t take any real action for weeks. And our city government? Minneapolis has estimated that in one month alone — while up to 3,000 federal immigration enforcement agents invaded our neighborhoods — the city experienced at least $203.1M in impact, and that that total represents losses to the economy, livelihoods, neighbors’ mental health, and to food and shelter security. In response? Just this week, the Mayor vetoed an ordinance passed by the City Council that would have given tenants 60 days notice before eviction — an extension of the usual 30 days. This ordinance was meant to give us Minneapolitans more time to fundraise for our neighbors’ outstanding rent (something we’ve now been successfully doing for months, for many many families). Landlords would still have gotten paid. They would have just had to wait a bit longer. And yet, the mayor who recently made a “victory tour” across nationwide media decided to hasten evictions for the families we haven’t been able to help yet. And he suggested $1M in rent relief as his alternative to the eviction delay, on top of $1M the City Council had already allocated. This is the city’s response while, according to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), Minnesota is facing an excess rent debt of $27.4-$51.3M after the federal occupation.
Make it make sense.
These are the people who can move millions. Billions, even. These are the people who have access to the most capital — capital that could easily vanquish the needs. These are the people who could be collaborating with each other, organizing funding and relief, responding to the needs their communities share with them.
Instead, they’re sloooooowly moving… peanuts.
A Leaderful Movement of Neighbors Rises Up Instead
Meanwhile, in my world of neighbors helping neighbors, the movement is swift, responsive, and even massive.
A friend just posted this on Facebook:
If you’ve donated to our rent fund, I wanted to share a post made recently by the person who organizes it.
We’ve prevented evictions! Supported families who have been torn apart because of racism, and a dark terrible narrative!
Some families are slowly returning to work, others aren’t ready, their job is gone, or the person who shared their rent costs is gone.
We are about to kick off our fundraising for April, where we’ll be prioritizing families who have eviction orders and families who’ve lost someone to detainment and deportation. Donate here if you can.
And then she shared this amazing graphic:
And that is just one of many many such efforts by neighbors around the Twin Cities and the whole of Minnesota.
Want a sense of the scale of this mutual aid effort?
Go to the Stand With Minnesota website created by another friend. Scroll through, and you’ll see the list of rent fund after rent fund — all inspiring examples of regular neighbors stepping up to keep their neighbors housed, by digging into their own income and/or savings, and asking the same of their other neighbors, friends, and family. By now, there has likely been well over $20M raised via Stand With Minnesota, by some (hard-to-make) estimates (that are probably grossly underestimating totals).
Consider these results.
Millions upon millions raised.
Hundreds of school communities mobilizing to protect their kids.
Neighborhoods mobilizing to keep their neighbors fed and housed.
Community connections forged and strengthened.
I can’t help but think…
… that I’m pretty sure I’m watching our collective definition of philanthropy transform before our very eyes, in real-time.
I think us neighbors see it.
But I’m wondering if the aforementioned institutions have realized it yet….
Mutual Aid Is What Philanthropy’s Actually About
We here in Minnesota have been calling this a “leaderful” movement since the beginning of our response to the occupation.
Because, frankly — swiftly responding, as we needed to, to emergent necessity — there was no time to wait for orders or direction from anybody.
People mobilized. Everywhere. All at once.
They gave what they could. They brought their unique talents to the table and contributed where those most made sense. Again and again, we reminded each other that you don’t need to do everything — you just need to do what you’re able to do.
And if all of us do that?
We should all be doing pretty well.
Musicians made music.
Cooks cooked.
Writers wrote.
Organizers organized.
Artists made art.
Those who had money gave it.
Those who didn’t gave so much else.
And everywhere you looked, people were connecting with other people, organizing themselves into a force that was so formidable…
… that it was able to take down a giant.
I don’t know where we go next.
The future is unwritten.
But we’re all already talking and strategizing about how we continue to root into and grow the new ecosystemic philanthropy we’ve been seeding.
We’re going to keep giving.
We’re going to keep organizing.
We’re going to keep loving each other.
And meanwhile, those institutions?
The ones we used to think were “the leaders”… or “philanthropy”?
I dunno.
I think they’re quickly losing relevance.
Maybe they should just spend down those endowments and huge pots of reserves, pouring all of that latent capital that has been just sitting there for generations, capital that was meant to move and help…
…into the communities that are already leading…
… and that desperately need it…
… and roll up their sleeves to help too.
There are plenty leaders waiting to invite them into the fold and give them a meaningful job to do — one that will actually help.
Are they ready to leave their ivory towers…
… and high perches…
… and join in community with us?
I sure hope so.
Wanna show up for residents of Minnesota who have now been feeling under siege for SO many weeks? Be the wind beneath our wings!
Go to this website: Stand With Minnesota.
There you’ll find opportunities to support mutual aid… crowdfunding campaigns… nonprofits working on the ground… and even real-life testimonies about what has been happening here.
You’ll find love. And you’ll find courage.
Because those two things are what have been powering us all through this most difficult time in our shared life together.
Also, I’m calling out a specific campaign raising emergency rental assistance for families who 1) have a kid in early childhood special education; and 2) haven’t been able to work because of the occupation of our city. These families are at risk for eviction if we cannot help them pay their rent ASAP and, according to my organizing buds, this particular group seems to have fallen through all the other cracks (i.e. they are not connected to other sources of support):
Conversation: Your Response
Got more to say? Visit the comments section!
Now is the time to reach out and connect with others. Life doesn’t have to be so hard. Your community is waiting for you! Advice when you need it. Been-there, done-thats. Commiseration. Support. A place to vent. Guidance and mentoring. All of this, and more, is what I anticipate happening at Community-Weaving for Fundraisers.
Just community-based fundraisers. Gathering for (virtual) lunch together. Twice a month. Year-round. Chatting and supporting each other via WhatsApp in between lunches. Being there for each other.
All you need to do is show up, be present… while I guide, facilitate, organize, and create the container.
Practice: Make It Yours
Our practice today is simple.
Find a quiet place where you can hear your thoughts.
Take three deep breaths into your belly, and slowly blow them out through your lips, as if you have a straw between them.
Get quiet within yourself.
Reflect.
Ask yourself:
What are my talents? What can I give to help others?
Get your answer(s).
And then go do it.
Inspiration: Wisdom to Mull Over
Even after all this time,
the sun never says to the earth,
"You owe me."
Look what happens
with a love like that:
it lights the whole sky.
- 14th-Century Persian Poet Hafiz
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