By Lauren Janus
The Share Fund Team (from top left: Bill Marklyn, Holly Marklyn, Emily Washines, Rashad Norris, Stephanie Ellis-Smith, Sewheat Asfaha, Bridgette Hempstead, Estakio Beltran. Not pictured: My Tam Nguyen, Vivian Phillips, and Lauren Janus)
In the ever-evolving landscape of philanthropy, traditional approaches are being challenged by new, innovative models that prioritize transparency and community engagement. Participatory grantmaking, by including people closest to the issues that philanthropy is working to address, has brought fresh perspective to the design of charitable initiatives and funds. One shining example of this radical approach is The Share Fund, a Seattle-based family fund that is redefining the dynamics of philanthropy through its commitment to empowering communities and redistributing wealth.
Phīla Engaged Giving has collaborated with The Share Fund since inception, and we helped the Marklyns publish their learnings from the first year of the Fund in this new report. Below, I share our journey and the valuable lessons we've learned from working alongside Bill and Holly Marklyn and the Funding Committee members who have helped shape the Fund.
Prioritizing Community
The Share Fund’s journey began with two simple yet transformative ideas: What would it take for high-wealth individuals to redistribute all of their wealth within their lifetimes? How could this be done in a socially-just manner?
These questions led to the birth of The Share Fund, a grantmaking body created in 2021 and focused on supporting racial and gender justice in Washington State. Working with the Marklyns, Phīla Giving established and continues to support all administrative aspects of The Fund. This included identifying and onboarding Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) leaders to conceptualize and help make The Fund’s vision a reality. Today, this same concept still stands—a group of BIPOC leaders with deep community connections and expertise in racial and gender justice is responsible for the selection of grantees. For a deep dive into how this work was done, I invite you to read Bridgette Hempstead’s opinion piece for Philanthropy News Digest.
The early stages of The Share Fund broke away from the traditional models of philanthropy where a donor-centric framework positions high wealth individuals to make decisions on behalf of the communities they aim to serve. Instead, The Share Fund handed decision-making power to the communities and individuals who are directly impacted by challenges like underinvestment, systemic racism, and lack of access to opportunity. By doing so, The Share Fund ensures that the needs and the aspirations of the community are prioritized.
Adjusting as Concerns Arise
Phīla’s collaboration with The Share Fund was a well-made match as we understand the need to lean into community and evolve as needed. For example, in the early stages of The Share Fund, Committee members spent too much time on administrative work—taking away from their purpose of designing the participatory process of The Share Fund. Once this concern was raised, The Fund’s administrative tasks shifted to us at Phīla.
Moving at the Speed of Trust
Building trust between funders and communities is essential for successful participatory grantmaking. The Share Fund's emphasis on collaboration and transparent communication demonstrates the importance of creating a safe space where open dialogue can flourish. The Marklyns and The Share Fund model a hands-off approach that serves the community without strings attached. In fact, Bill and Holly are not on calls where funding discussions, and ultimately, decisions happen. The Marklyns entrust the Funding Committee members with all aspects of the grantmaking process, only giving the parameters that grantees must focus on race and gender justice in Washington State.
When new Funding Committee members join The Share Fund, they are often surprised by the loose structure of The Fund. It simply isn’t their experience (especially for those who are leaders of nonprofit organizations) to have full control. Yet working in this manner has yielded incredible outcomes. Since inception in 2021, The Share Fund has made more than $1.1 million in grants to organizations on the frontlines of change. This includes our most recent round of grantmaking, which wraps up this month. By relying on the insights of a Funding Committee, the Share Fund strongly reiterates what seems obvious but is often lost: Trust is the cornerstone upon which impactful partnerships are built.
Reshaping the Philanthropic Landscape
As our collaboration with The Share Fund continues, we are excited by the potential of participatory grantmaking to reshape the philanthropic landscape. This revolutionary approach reminds us all that there is a great reward when we relinquish control and embrace a new era of inclusivity, collaboration, and empowerment.
The Share Fund's journey exemplifies the profound impact of participatory grantmaking on the lives of individuals and communities. Their dedication to transforming philanthropy from within serves as an inspiration to all those who seek to create meaningful change. As we move forward, we are committed to applying the lessons we've learned from The Share Fund to our own work, and we invite fellow philanthropic organizations and families to join us in this transformative journey toward a more equitable and just world.
Want to learn more about the Share Fund and its approach? Download “Letting Go of Power, Centering Community: The Share Fund’s Story of Incorporating Participatory Grantmaking in Family Philanthropy” today!