We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our latest animation, “Shifting the Funding Paradigm,” which sheds light on the often unseen challenges that grassroots organizations face when seeking support from philanthropic institutions. One movement partner offers a stark truth: “The most difficult thing we face is that funders don’t meet us where we are at. Their practices force us to become technical and bureaucratic, limiting our vision and impacting our movement.”

“Shifting the Funding Paradigm” highlights how traditional funding practices are often disconnected from the realities of grassroots organizations, who build movements that are social, intrinsic, and organic, but become flattened by funding requirements into time bound and restrictive projects. This disconnect not only hampers the effectiveness of these movements, but can also marginalize the very communities they strive to uplift.
 
So, how can philanthropy shift from good intentions to real, transformative support? As one activist in the animation powerfully states, “we are not looking for charity, but for actual political solidarity that entrusts us to decide how we use our resources.” It’s a call to action urging funders to adopt an approach that is flexible, expansive, and rooted in trust and mutual understanding.
 
“Shifting the Funding Paradigm” outlines the basic changes in funding practices that are required for philanthropy to meet the true needs of grassroots movements and support meaningful, lasting change. But we know the work doesn’t stop at the basics. To go above and beyond, for nearly 40 years, Thousand Currents has championed a partnership funding model that centers relationships; respects the pace, flexibility, and creativity of movements; and accompanies our partners for the long haul. Learn more about our partnership model.
 
As you watch “Shifting the Funding Paradigm” we invite you to reflect on these questions: How can their teachings guide you and your funding practices to better serve grassroots movements? How can we change the way funding flows, and truly support those who are working to change the world from the bottom up?
 
Watch “Shifting the Funding Paradigm”
 
“Shifting the Funding Paradigm” draws on the experiences and insights of movement partners that were shared in a groundbreaking research study, Foregrounding Social Movement Voices: Popular Organizing and Philanthropic Funding in Asia and the Pacific. The study, based on 20 in-depth interviews with grassroots activists and funders across 12 countries, explores the complex relationship between grassroots organizations and institutional funding. We are grateful to the movement leaders and partners who participated in the study for trusting us with their experiences.