The Giving Project

The 6-month Giving Project workshop series looks roughly like this:
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• Session 1: Introductions – getting to know one another, understanding the history of injustice and resistance in the U.S., and building community
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• Session 2: Race and Class – understanding privilege and oppression, examining systemic racism and classism, and exploring our own backgrounds and stories.
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• Session 3: Fundraising – determining our personal donations to the Project, practicing making pitches, and learning grassroots fundraising skills.
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• Session 4: Grantmaking – learning the principles of social justice philanthropy, reviewing grant proposals, and planning site visits.
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• Session 5: Screening – check in on grassroots fundraising, learning more about potential grantees, and site visit training Individuals participate in Site Visits and get to know potential grantees.
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• Session 6: Final Decisions – pooling together our collective funds that were raised and democratically making final grant decisions.
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• Session 7: Wrap Up Party – reflecting on the experience, highlighting grant recipients, and celebrating our accomplishments together

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Yes! The Giving Project's training on race and class are expertly designed to equip all participants with a shared understanding and a common language before we engage in the evaluation of applications and site visits. While some may find familiar concepts in the curriculum, there is always valuable new knowledge to gain. Many individuals have training in either race or class, but seldom in both; our curriculum addresses this gap effectively. These trainings not only enhance knowledge but also actively foster dialogue and relationship-building among a dynamic cohort of individuals who are intergenerational, cross-race, cross-class, and represent diverse identity groups. It's common for conversations to happen in enclaves where participants share similar identities, but we break those boundaries. Moreover, the Giving Project model seamlessly integrates learning with action. While many training programs offer frameworks, they often fall short of prompting participants to take concrete steps afterward. By intertwining political education with fundraising and grantmaking, the Giving Project empowers participants to put their learning into practice and make a real impact in the world.

Giving Projects brings together a group of about 20 community members across race and class. Giving Project participants attend a series of political education workshops over a 6-month period together. The Giving Project culminates in a democratic grantmaking process: each member contributes a personally meaningful donation and commits to fundraising their network or community. The 20 members then pool their money together, review grant applications, participate in site visits, and jointly decide on where to direct their pooled funds. You can read more about Giving Projects at www.givingprojects.org.