Community-First Funding

Jennifer Debues of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough Foundation speaks about embracing participatory grantmaking—an approach that puts funding decisions into the hands of the communities most affected. This shift not only ensured funds reached those who needed them most but also helped validate and amplify gender-focused work that often goes unnoticed.

Despite being the “tiniest Community Foundation,” Manda Aufochs Gillespie of Cortes Island Community Foundation shares how her small but mighty team is taking bold steps to challenge traditional funding models, from tackling food insecurity to prioritizing immediate impact over long-term financial reserves.