These are the guiding philanthropic principles that we believe to be most valuable in our advising:

  1. Social justice giving focuses on systemic change that addresses the root causes of racial, economic and environmental injustice, not just the symptoms.

  2. It centers the people who are most impacted as key decision-makers, and respects their self-determination by giving with no strings attached.

  3. In social justice philanthropy, foundations strive to be accountable, transparent and responsive in their grantmaking.

  4. Donors and foundations act in solidarity with social justice movements by contributing not only money but time, knowledge, skills and access.

  5. Foundations use their assets and investments, alongside grants, to support progressive social change.

    Provided by Resource Generation

Principles of Social Justice Giving

Principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy

  • Give Multi-Year, Unrestricted Funding

    Unrestricted funding over time is essential for creating healthy, adaptive, effective organizations.

  • Do the Homework

    It’s the funder’s responsibility to get to know prospective grantees, not the other way around.

  • Simplify & Streamline Paperwork

    Support nonprofit staff to concentrate on their mission, rather than funder-driven paperwork.

  • Be Transparent & Responsive

    Open, honest, and transparent communication minimizes power imbalances and helps move the work forward.

  • Solicit & Act on Feedback

    Grantees provide valuable perspective that can help inform a funder’s support and services.

  • Offer Support Beyond the Check

    Responsive, adaptive, non-monetary support helps foster healthier organizations by bolstering leadership and capacity.

Our Principles in Action

  • At Outpour, we are in service to movements, rather than directors. Our work is guided by the people and communities who are closer to the problems we aim to change.

  • Our holistic approach to unrestricted granting ensures that funds are used where needed most within an organization. At this time, our grant maximum is $50,000, but we encourage nonprofits to take their entire business costs into account when applying for a grant.

  • We are committed to the capacity-building and amplifying of marginalized voices, which is why more than 50% of our grant awards to go towards BIPOC led and serving organizations.

  • The top 5% of nonprofits receive 88% of all charitable donations. We aim to combat this funding gap by granting, first, to organizations that don’t have an extensive history of being awarded amounts over $30,000.

  • Our grant application assessment rubric is accessible to the public to maintain transparency as to what we are looking for as grantmakers and hope to learn through the application.

  • Our philanthropy is greater than money. We utilize all of our resources to provide the 5 T’s of Charitable Giving: Time, Talent, Treasure, Social Ties, and, Testimony.