Philanthropy Equity in Action Lab by Brittany Janay

2025-10-07 15:28:20 UTC

If we’re centering neighbors, we have to measure neighbors.

2025-10-07 15:29:14 UTC

Definitions - shifting from Food Desert to Food Apartheid, for example. These terms offer deeper context for next step communications.

Concern around donors "checking out" if there are too many new phrases or ways to describe our work that they're not familiar with.

2025-10-07 15:29:43 UTC

Story Framework: Recognize MFB is not the main character of every story.

2025-10-07 15:31:27 UTC

When we distill stories to a soundbite, it loses strength. It needs context—systemic (ex: lack of disability services lead to food insecurity)

2025-10-07 15:32:00 UTC

Sources - where did the data points come from? How did we choose these sources, and how did we verify their credibility?

If this deck is split up depending on the donor's interest or the venue its being shared, how do we make sure data sources (& a potential glossary) are not omitted?

2025-10-07 15:33:38 UTC

Narrative storytelling with transparency and candor.

2025-10-07 15:36:06 UTC

Balancing systemic inequalities while also talking about the wide spread existence of food insecurity (1 in 3 Marylanders)

2025-10-07 15:36:16 UTC

"Hunger 101" add on for after the case for support share/discussion. Can go deeper into areas of interest for the donor, better define updating terms?

Opportunity to also take a donor's interest into a real story, and an expanded conversation about the root causes of what they're experiencing.

2025-10-07 15:36:27 UTC

There's a tension in my work between representing MFB and the fight for food security widely, while also educating reporters and the public about what they don't know. The questions people ask are not always the ones we'd prefer to answer!

I want to represent neighbors stories while protecting their dignity and privacy

2025-10-07 15:38:07 UTC

CFS starts strong, showing what food insecurity causes. "Hunger has a cost."

Root causes are added in as the deck continues, but if not all slides are included, we could present an incomplete picture.

What are the core slides that must be included in every "chopped up" version that maintains the context of the information and root cause connections?

2025-10-07 15:38:50 UTC

Changing survey questions from food insecurity to food sovereignty. Empowerment, self-determination, community.

2025-10-07 15:38:54 UTC

Connecting with staff who are boots on the ground and the front desk, receiving stories on a day-to-day basis. We are removed from behind a desk.

2025-10-07 15:39:55 UTC

Perfect is the enemy of good. (Perfectionism is white supremacy culture.)

2025-10-07 15:40:25 UTC

Viewing donors as partners instead of using because of you language and giving them a savor complex.

2025-10-07 15:42:20 UTC

Accessibility thoughts -

Have we analyzed the CFA for reading level?

Will our donors have the fonts we use available on their device? If not, how does this alter the viewability of the document?

This is not mobile friendly - include recommendation to open on a larger screen.

Colors of the map are hard to distinguish, lots of yellow on yellow.

2025-10-07 15:42:31 UTC

Some quotes in the case for support deck are more about stories of individual challenge, instead of reflections about the system not working or showing connection, agency, joy, etc.

2025-10-07 15:43:38 UTC

Food Bank impact - why was the food bank established? Why are we ready? What is the historical context for why MFB exists?

2025-10-07 15:44:41 UTC

Who is choosing to share their stories with us, and who is not? Immediate bias and possibility of perpetuating stereotypes. How do we create a safer space for story-sharing?

2025-10-07 15:46:13 UTC

Showing our impact in tandem with the need to demonstrate change

2025-10-07 15:46:17 UTC

Working from the bottom up: Hearing personally from our neighbors and learning from their impact, being able to pinpoint the needs of the public hearing from the public.

2025-10-07 15:46:54 UTC

Building Trust to Build Community

Moving from transaction to relationship...

Communication style is changing to be more personal to build relationship.
Find out what donors are interested in and tap into those things to tell our food story and journey.
Explaining the need in different areas to get more from existing donors.
Taking donors to tour partners
Keep donors abreast throughout the year of what their donation helped with (impact report on different programs)
Use Speaker Bureau more to share their mission
Put QR code signs up in volunteer areas so new volunteers can give after volunteering.
Invite donors to our Event Series
Give Frontline Fundraisers a budget to spend on donors for lunch/ drop of cookies or candy as a way to visit (like a sales person does)

2025-10-07 15:47:16 UTC

We have already intentionally shifted the tone of our messaging away from donors as saviors to a community-focused, relationship building approach. Inviting donors to engage in their own communities vs. making them feel despair or guilt around the issues.

2025-10-07 15:48:01 UTC

How do we provide context of the barriers the story's protagonist is facing?

2025-10-07 15:48:42 UTC

Ensure our stories are as transparent as possible, specifically outlining our efforts and not implying that other org's efforts are always fueled by our efforts.

2025-10-07 15:51:00 UTC

Note that presenting MFB as a leader has dissonance with the idea of centering communities as co-creators and experts themselves.