Expanding Philanthropy: Inviting Everyone to the Table

Here at Brooklyn Org, we have made intentional changes over the years to how we practice and speak about philanthropy, guided by the belief that there are many ways to be philanthropic. Whenever possible, we invite our neighbors to partner alongside us, because everyone has a part to play at Brooklyn Org.

We also want to make sure that our work is approachable and accessible for all. Take for example, the word “philanthropy”. This comes easy for me. I didn’t hear the word “philanthropy” until I was fresh out of college (like many new grads, nervous and desperate for a job with health benefits), and interviewing for what would then become my first full-time job at a family foundation. In that role, I was able to connect previous experience from college, where I organized an auction to raise funds for local nonprofits, to overseeing the funding application process at a charitable organization.

It turns out that I was not only intimately aware of philanthropy, but I had also practiced it — I was a philanthropist!

This revelation was striking. As an immigrant from a working-class background, I didn’t know many people who donated money other than the occasional dollar to someone on the subway. But philanthropy is not just about the money—it is about the time and dedication you can give your community to improve it. This core definition can often be lost in the field of Philanthropy (capital P), as people often reserve the term “philanthropist” for only the wealthy. At Brooklyn Org, we want to change that, as we believe that everyone can have a seat at the table!

One of the ways that we invite people into the work is by exposing them to the work of our Programs team. Recently, we invited a group of a dozen middle school students for the day at Brooklyn Org. After a general introduction to our work, the team took them through reading and evaluating real (but anonymized and redacted) proposals. Their insights were particularly astute. One student convincingly fought for funding for an organization that supports neighbors when they have been arrested, while another declared a different nonprofit’s application confusing, noting “I don’t actually understand what they do.”

These Program Officers-in-training managed the real tensions between resource restrictions and community need. After that activity and others throughout the day, they felt ready to continue their personal philanthropy with a trained eye.

The work of professional philanthropy is not just about passion, however. It is not just the “why” behind the giving, but also the “how.” Exposing future philanthropists to the mechanics of grantmaking is an intentional way of introducing them to a career in philanthropy. Brooklyn Org hosts a weekly high school level intern that has been exposed to all facets of our programmatic work. Recently, they provided immense—and speedy—support as we transitioned to a new database. After orienting our intern to our field and work, they supported real operational changes.

At Brooklyn Org, we have hosted many college interns and early career fellows in their quest to learn more about our borough and the field of philanthropy. Through discrete projects such as analyzing the local Brooklyn nonprofit sector or the legislative work of our grantee partners, these projects challenge future philanthropists to consider the world around them in interconnected and historically informed ways.

Storytelling is a powerful way to bring people into philanthropy, making the work feel personal, tangible, and accessible. Through this very column—our monthly Programs blog—we invite you behind the curtain to better understand how our Programs team supports Brooklyn’s nonprofit community and why it matters. By sharing the stories behind our grantmaking, partnerships, and community initiatives, we hope to show that philanthropy isn’t just about giving: it’s about building relationships, deepening our understanding of justice, and working collectively to strengthen our communities.

Lastly, we’ve been hard at work planning our next Brooklyn Org Volunteer Day on April 26th, building on last year’s success. Working with a variety of nonprofit partners whose work and geographic reach spans the borough, the goal is to spark philanthropy in all participants, recognizing that there are so many everyday opportunities to show Brooklyn some love. We hope you will join us this year at one of our volunteer sites – sign up for our newsletter below to be notified when registration opens.

With so many ways to impact Brooklyn, we invite you to get involved in your community however you can. Your time, interest, and resources are needed to make Brooklyn a fair and just home to all!