Philanthropy is rarely straightforward. At Building Impact Partners, we embrace that complexity: today’s societal issues pose complex problems that require nuanced, creative solutions. More than that, they require deep engagement with local communities, collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, and the willingness to try new approaches.
That’s what’s exciting about the approach our clients take. Complex problems are a chance to innovate and learn while following the lead of the impacted communities.
I believe in this model so strongly that I have joined the board of Doing Good, Well. (DGW), a nonprofit that brings together a portfolio of organizations and a collective of donors to tackle pressing challenges facing communities. This week, DGW announced its first Collaborative Engagement: an initiative targeting homelessness in the Kensington neighborhood of my hometown of Philadelphia. Our goal is to provide trauma-informed resources to the hundreds of Kensington residents who experience homelessness each year.
What drew me to DGW was its approach. Instead of chasing singular solutions or hoping one organization can do it all, six community partners are coming together, each with their own credibility and expertise, to tackle different aspects of the challenge. In Kensington, this means offering support in navigating trauma, understanding root-causes, and providing critical resources for workforce development, medical assistance, mental health support, and family and childcare related issues.
Traditional approaches generally focus on interventions after a crisis has already occurred. For example, support might be offered only once a family is facing eviction. Likewise, traditional supports may not address underlying trauma. As a result, our options become narrower and the supports we use become less effective. By taking a more holistic approach, we hope to reach those in need sooner and provide more effective resources for the challenges they face.
From the donors’ perspective, this approach offers an opportunity to give collectively through community-based leaders and support often overlooked local organizations. Not only will their dollars stretch farther, but donors can feel confident in knowing that the work will have an impact.
The world is literally on fire right now. There are challenges everywhere and it often feels like we lack the time or resources to address them. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, but it does mean that efficiency and innovation are vital to making an impact.
This is why I’m so excited to be joining DGW. The more avenues that exist for philanthropy to be effective, grounded in community, and oriented around collective action, the more impact we will see. That matters for Kensington and for all of us.
