“The philanthropy we need in this moment of polycrisis is a philanthropy that shifts power to those who have been shut out of it, and listening to community is a key part of how funders can shift power. I am excited to help normalize a practice, listening to community, that holds transformational potential for the field and funders alike.”

“Sometimes the simplest and most obvious things are the hardest to see! Listening to community is one of those. I am excited to bring support to this radically obvious truth that the only way to have healthy, fair, and thriving communities is to listen to those in the community. I am also excited to learn with and from others in the L2C community.”

“Listening to community is logical to me; why wouldn’t people want to do things this way? We try to listen in our everyday work, guided by a clear set of principles, being in right relationship with folks, learning from others’ experiences, and sharing what we are learning in return. It matters to feel that we’re not unusual in the field and that this approach is validated by peers. That’s why I’m excited about this initiative, and curious, too, about how much change we can help make happen.”

“I am excited about the opportunity to participate as a Listen to Community Ambassador because this program and the people involved are committed to a version of American Big Giving that reduces the power and influence of the wealthy and moves decision making to the communities that are most affected by the harms created by our government and corporations. Through listening to those most affected by systems extraction and repression, we learn of more effective ways to upend and/or modify the systems that created some of our most vexing challenges.”

“Sustainable change can happen only when communities define their problems and work together to determine solutions. Philanthropy plays a role in providing resources, information, and tools, but ultimately communities get to decide what they need. Listening to the community is critical, trusting they are the true agents of change allows us to build meaningful relationships that lead to success as defined by the community.”

“Listening to community as both a practice and a framework is a way to rematriate how we think about our work and about community building. It reconnects us to community knowledge and Indigenous ways of knowing, offering philanthropy an opportunity to learn and engage in ways we haven’t fully embraced in the past.”

“I hope Listen to Community encourages philanthropy to truly listen to and share power with everyday neighbors who best understand their own lives. By grounding decisions in lived experience and current realities, philanthropy can set priorities that are more relevant, responsive, and ultimately more effective.”

“Imagine what would be possible if funders fully embraced deep, generative listening! Philanthropy would look — and feel — so radically different. Community-centered. Community-powered. Community love.”

“Listening to shift power means believing the communities we seek to serve are best positioned to facilitate the change they need. I see community voice and perspective as expertise. At Heron, we work to build relationships with people and institutions in rural communities that are most affected by inequity because we believe they are intimately connected to the solutions they need. We look to those relationships and what they show us to shape our strategy, investments, and partnerships.”

“I’m deeply honored to serve as Listen to Community’s Lead Ambassador. Listening has shaped my own journey in philanthropy, showing that real change begins when we are willing to trust communities, shift power, and create authentic relationships rooted in love and solidarity. In my lead role, I have the privilege of supporting our L2C ambassadors, amplifying their work and creating spaces for them to share how they value and center community voice. I believe this community of leaders will inspire others across the sector to embrace listening as a path to changing hearts and practices — to achieve more effective and equitable philanthropy.”

“I like the idea that you’re not really listening until you’re willing to be changed by the message, and the messenger, you’re listening to. Imagine a future in which every funder, grounded in the practice of careful and respectful listening, is joyfully evolving based on the wisdom of their community!”