Listening in Practice

Check out these stories, tools, events, and other resources to help turn your commitment to listening into action. Subscribe to stay up to date.
North Carolina Network of Grantmakers (NCNG)

Come see us at North Carolina Network of Grantmakers’ Promising Practices Gathering

Thurs. Oct. 8, 2026, 1:15 – 2:45 pm
Working Together on Purpose,” with L2C co-lead Gita Gulati-Partee. Join the session or let’s connect at the conference to talk about listening to shift power!

Philanthropy Northwest 2026 Conference

Join our workshop at Philanthropy Northwest 2026 Conference

Wed, Oct. 7, 2026, 1:45 – 4:15 pm
Community on Board: Shifting Power Through Foundation Governance,” with special guests Carly Hare (Headwaters Foundation) and Kevin Walker (Northwest Area Foundation).
Please join us or let’s find another way to connect!

Cover of the Foundation Review special issue on a yellow background.

Five Practical Steps for Building a Listening Practice

Cover of the Foundation Review special issue on a pink background.

Listening for Real: Mindsets That Promote Practices to Transform Philanthropy

Why Listening to Community is Essential in 2026 

A group of people in a circle hold string that makes a criss-crossing pattern across the circle

From Givers to Learners: How One Foundation Transformed Its Listening Practice

two dozen people who work at nonprofits supported by the Haas Fund's Endeavor Fund pose for a photo on a staircase

In Conversation: What Listening Looks Like at Two Family Foundations

Community on Board toolkit graphic

Tool Spotlight: Learn How to Bring Impacted Community Members on Board

Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit logo

Tool Spotlight: Discover the Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit

Funder Listening Action Menu Tools and Resources to Shift Power to Communities

Tool Spotlight: Explore the Funder Listening Action Menu

Funder Listening Assessment Tool

Tool Spotlight: Take the Funder Listening Assessment

Community Listening Sessions: A Guide for Funders

Tool Spotlight: See What it Takes to Run a Community Listening Session

Glen Galaich at the microphone for an author talk at Shared Insight's 2026 gathering

From a Mindset of Control to Public Stewardship: Centering Community, Moving the Money

Cover of the Foundation Review special issue on a blue background.

Listen4Good: New Learnings from Collaborative Community Listening in the Field

Fund for Shared Insight meeting

Reflecting on 12 Years of Fund for Shared Insight: A Video

A woman wearing a "Brooklyn Backs Brooklyn" t-shirt sorts books with other volunteers

Putting Community at the Center: Our Path to Shifting Power

‘Share Your Voice:’ GreenLight Fund Kansas City Looks to Community for Direction

Cover of the Foundation Review special issue on a green background.

Listening to Change: Leaning into the Messiness of Authentic Engagement

Headshots of 11 Listen to Community Ambassadors

Introducing the New Listen to Community Ambassadors

"Toward Meaningful, Valuable, Equitable Governance," a report/tool from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)

Building Boards for Community-Driven Philanthropy: A New Resource from GEO

Reimagining Governance: A Q&A with Dimple Abichandani

Reimagining Governance: A Q&A with Dimple Abichandani

Horizon Foundation and Howard County Maryland - The Roving Radish pop up veggie stand

‘The Relationship is the Intervention:’ A Funder Works Side by Side with Community

Philanthropy and Community Empowerment: A Talk with Hanh Le

Listening As Repair: A Conversation with Hanh Le

Cover of the Foundation Review special issue on an orange background.

A Case Study Updated: Applying Community Engagement Lessons to Strategic Planning

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