Insights From a BKO Program Officer on Community Grantmaking

When Brooklyn Org funds a nonprofit, it isn’t just about writing a check—it’s about trust, partnership, and a deep understanding of the work being done on the ground. But how do funders make the right choices? How do we ensure that funding decisions are made with both care and community insight? At Brooklyn Org, we believe that the people who live in and love this borough should have a say in where resources are directed. That’s why our participatory grantmaking process is designed to bring more voices into philanthropy, ensuring funding decisions are informed by those with lived experience.

Back when I worked for a community-based nonprofit, I worried each time we invited funders to invest in our work. Did we deliver an engaging, clear and compelling statement of impact? Did grantmakers truly understand the challenges of fixing entrenched and complicated societal problems? After having sat on the nonprofit side of the table, I have seen firsthand how nonprofits are frequently underappreciated by funders and people in general (in my experience, some of my own family members fall into this category).

Fast forward to my current life as a Program Officer at Brooklyn Org: over the last four weeks, I attended 26 site visits, asked questions and listened actively, motivated not only by my nonprofit memories but also by the commitment of the Advisory Council Members attending with me.  Brooklyn Org’s Advisory Council Members live in, work in, and come from neighborhoods all over Brooklyn.  Because they love this borough and know that nonprofits provide key programs and services to Brooklynites, they devote their time to undergo training, read applications, and attend site visits as part of Brooklyn Org’s participatory grantmaking process.

When all the site visits are completed, Advisory Council Members meet to discuss and make arguments for the nonprofits they believe should be awarded our funding.  They grapple with difficult questions: if an organization is small and in need of financial support, does that mean a grant should be awarded to ensure the continuation of a key program or service they provide?  Or would a grant award under these circumstances be wasted because the organization may be at risk of failing?  What other factors, if any, should be considered?

Let’s take, for example, how to apply Brooklyn Org’s racial justice lens: does the fact that an applicant organization has Black and brown people seated at the table when we arrive necessarily mean they conduct their work in a way that affords every individual the opportunity to live self-determined lives of dignity?  Do program participants get the chance to shape services or to become nonprofit board members?  Are staff members representative of the communities the organization serves, and do they feel heard and supported in their work?  Our Advisory Council members explore these nuanced questions and many more throughout the application vetting process.

When working in partnership with any group, there may be times they opt to keep their voices to themselves– and so our team at Brooklyn Org actively encourages our Advisory Council to share their points of view. We work to maintain a safe, respectful and confidential space where members think out loud, voice their concerns and feel comfortable asking each other for guidance.  We hold several rounds of voting, and the majority votes determine the final recommendations.  Ultimately, our Advisory Council recommends a list of the organizations it believes should be awarded Brooklyn Org’s strategic grants. After additional reviews, the list is presented to the Brooklyn Org Board, another group of Brooklyn-lovers who volunteer their time, for final approval.

At a time when philanthropy can feel distant from the communities it serves, Brooklyn Org’s participatory approach reminds me of what’s possible when grantmaking is locally rooted and community-driven. Instead of decisions being made behind closed doors, Brooklynites themselves—people with a deep understanding of their neighborhoods and the organizations that serve them—are at the table shaping how resources are distributed.

Trite as it may sound, the participatory grantmaking process has given me hope to withstand the unrelenting torrent of news about hate, selfishness, and abuse of power. My unsolicited advice?  Take a break from 1010 WINS and social media doomscrolling. Instead, get involved.

Apply to be a Brooklyn Org Advisory Council Member when applications open later this spring, and play a direct role in shaping the future of Brooklyn’s nonprofit landscape. Explore service activities with our partners on Brooklyn Org Volunteer Day, Saturday, April 26th — and learn about the incredible nonprofits right in your backyard. Or simply spread the word about what we’re doing at Brooklyn Org to advance equity across our communities.

Whatever you choose, there are so many ways to join our movement for a more fair and just Brooklyn.