Dear Friends of Changemakers,
It is with regret, but also with unanimity and clarity that we have made the decision to close Changemakers. The economic downturn, combined with our fundraising outlook, has made our course of action clear.
Changemakers burst on the scene a decade ago, not to build an endowment or another entrenched institution, but to awaken the country to social justice philanthropy as a field unto itself. Our intent was to ignite a passion for social change in donors everywhere, and to help build a powerful infrastructure for funding social movement organizations of the future.
Our work as an ongoing institution is done. We step aside to allow the seeds we have sown to take root, grow, and blossom in new and innovative ways. Together we can take profound, collective pride in our decade of accomplishment:
- We granted over $2 million to community-based social change philanthropies. These investments helped scores of organizations position themselves for the future and build lasting organizational capacity.
- Our guiding principle has been that social change philanthropy is defined not merely by where money is directed, but by how it is given. We spotlighted how the grant-making process itself could be a means of empowerment, constituency engagement, and could shift the balance of power between grantor and grantee.
- In the spirit of advancing diversity in philanthropy, we created a groundbreaking curriculum for donors of color that honors the unique contributions of different cultures to the American tradition of giving and inspires them to take a seat at the organized philanthropy table.
- We continually asked donors and foundations across the nation: "What are you doing with your philanthropy to achieve deep and lasting social change?" and many now have engaged deeply with that question.
We are grateful to all of you who supported our work over the years: our visionary founders (Tracy Gary, Laura Loescher and Mila Visser 't Hooft), board members and staff (including current staff members Eileen Hazel, Todd Holland, Diana Ip, and Dee Dee Nguyen), and our partners in this work. We want to give special thanks to Executive Director CJ Callen for leading us with wisdom and integrity.
The groundwork laid by our grant-making, education and advocacy will be a rich part of our legacy. But what we most want to leave as our legacy is a call to action for social justice philanthropy for the 21st Century that includes:
- Investment in the essential work done by Changemakers' past grantees; for a list of these organizations in need of your support to grow into their next stages of development, please click here
- Support for our colleagues working tirelessly to strengthen the infrastructure for social justice philanthropy. For more information, please visit changingfunding.org
- Support for the organization that will house the Essentials for Diversity in Giving (EDG) curriculum, to allow it to continue to build the capacity of the community-based philanthropy field.
- As Changemakers works to finalize this transition, you can find the latest news here on our web site and view our last video on Reimagining Philanthropy above.
In whatever way you can, we ask you to pick up this work and carry it forward. Through dialogue and discourse, education and advocacy, or other creative means, please continue to advance the values and vision of Changemakers for philanthropy that is transparent, accountable, diverse, inclusive, equitable and just. Through your ongoing efforts we can achieve a 21st century version of philanthropy that is truly transformational.
And finally, please consider a parting donation to Changemakers. Your generosity will help ensure the effective transition of the EDG curriculum to a new home and will support a smooth and complete closure for the organization.
Thank you again for all you have done for Changemakers. We are ever grateful for your vision and commitment.
Sincerely,
Judy Hatcher, Co-chair
Matt Howe, Co-chair
Janice Oringer, Treasurer
Avi Peterson, Secretary
Deborah Brody Hamilton, Board member
Sharon Gary-Smith, Board Member
Ron Rowell, Board member
