669. How to Build Trust With Funders (and Know When to Walk Away) - Gloria Dixon

Trust isn’t built in boardrooms, it’s built in community.

In this episode, Gloria Dixon (Director of Philanthropy + Executive Director, BECU Foundation) joins us for a real talk on what it takes to share power and reimagine funding through a trust-based lens. From her journey in Milwaukee to leading community-centered giving in the Pacific Northwest, Gloria opens up about what’s shifting in philanthropy and what still needs to.

Together, they dig into why multi-year, unrestricted support matters, how authentic relationships drive impact, and what it means to show up with empathy (not just reports and metrics). It’s hopeful, heart-forward, and packed with practical wisdom for anyone navigating the changing landscape of nonprofit funding.

Episode Highlights:

• Sector Challenges and Funding Changes (00:51)
• Gloria's Background and Upbringing (03:18)
• Disconnects Between Funders and Nonprofits (05:57)
• BECU’s Community-Focused Funding Approach (08:09)
• Multi-Year Funding Importance (10:32)
• Funding Friction and Reporting Challenges (14:17)
• Trust-Based Partnership Practices (17:58)
• Employee Engagement and Community Impact (20:53)
• Advice for Nonprofits: Building Trust (23:11)
• Gloria’s Personal Story of Philanthropy (25:38)
• Gloria’s One Good Thing (29:07)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/669

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