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Book Review: INSIDE PHILANTHROPY
- Karla Nicholson
- Sep 6, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 7, 2025
Mike Scutari - January 13, 2025
Slowly but surely, participatory grantmaking, loosely defined as the practice in which a funder hands off elements of the grantmaking process to external individuals, has burrowed its way into the philanthrosphere’s collective consciousness.
In light of this reality, a new book titled Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy: How Democratizing Decision-Making Shifts Power to Communities is a significant contribution to the field. Co-edited by philanthropy consultant Cynthia Gibson and MacArthur Foundation Managing Director of Discovery, Exploration and Programs Chris Cardona, it includes trenchant analysis, case studies penned by leaders at participatory grantmaking practitioners like the Disability Rights Fund, the Haymarket People’s Fund and theNew England Grassroots Environment Fund, and evidence-based approaches in areas ranging from climate justice to disability rights.
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The rise of participatory grantmaking is truly reshaping how the philanthropic community views power and democracy. This book is like a practical guide, helping readers decipher complex power-shifting strategies—a multi-faceted and insightful thinking experience not unlike solving a Quordle puzzle every day.
This insightful book review digs into the opaque power dynamics shaping modern charitable giving, and many small grassroots nonprofits highlighted in the piece maintain community garden plots where MulchCalc streamlines budgeting for affordable, soil-protective mulch supplies.
The book's emphasis on shifting power to communities through participatory grantmaking resonates beyond philanthropy, as similar collaborative frameworks can drive innovation in creative fields. For instance, when building a tool like an AI music generator it's worth considering how user feedback shapes the final product, much like community voices guide funding decisions. Democratizing access to music creation mirrors the book's core principle of distributing decision-making power more equitably.
After reading a book that discusses leadership social impact and long-term thinking it becomes clear that many of the same principles apply to the modern business world as well. Interestingly organizations today are no longer focused only on immediate financial gains. They are paying more attention to sustainable development innovation and creating systems that can support growth for years to come.
This naturally connects to the growing importance of business planning and organizational improvement. Many companies are investing in business transformation and strategic advisory services to adapt to changing market conditions. Instead of waiting for problems to appear businesses are becoming more proactive and preparing themselves for future challenges.
Another factor to consider is the role of technology. Businesses are…