Beyond Tokenization: What Authentic Lived Experience Partnership Requires
Authenticity in Lived Experience Partnerships in Philanthropy
Partnerships in Philanthropy
Funder Only Programming
Thursday, May 21
12pm - 1pm MT
Funders Together’s mission statement leads us to advance solutions that center people with lived expertise, a value mirrored by many of our members. But backing that up with action has proven less common. The field has yet to achieve meaningful partnerships with people with lived experience that avoid tokenization, binary thinking, and stereotypes. But resources have emerged to help us.
Join this conversation to learn about the new Lived Experience Grove, an online compendium of resources to support authentic lived experience partnerships, which was developed through such partnerships themselves, alongside several Funders Together members, many of whom also participated in our communities of practice on racial equity. We’ll explore the tools most relevant for funders, showcase exemplary grantmakers on the subject, and host candid dialogue on pain points that continue to inhibit philanthropy.
Objectives
- Demystify what it means to center people with lived experience
- Explore the resources in the Lived Experience Grove
- Crowdsource strategies to overcome obstacles to authentic lived experience partnerships
Speakers
- Josephine Pufpaff (she/her) | Owner-Worker, Housing Justice Collective
- Sarah Hunter (she/her) | Owner-Worker, Housing Justice Collective
- Kevin Solarte (he/him) | Owner-Worker, Housing Justice Collective
- Rachelle Matthews (she/her) | Director of Membership and Programs| Funders Together for Housing Justice (moderator)
Registration
Please RSVP for this call using the button below. You will receive your unique Zoom link once a Funders Together staff person has approved your registration. You will receive your Zoom link directly from Zoom once you have been approved.
Please note: Participation in Funders Together programming is limited to foundations, community foundations, grantmaking staff at United Ways, corporate giving programs, individual philanthropists, venture philanthropy and other non-traditional philanthropic giving entities, philanthropy-serving organizations, and members of Funders Together. Government funders and staff at organizations where grantmaking is not the primary function are not eligible to participate. Funders Together reserves the right to deny participation to individuals we believe do not meet participation eligibility criteria. If you have questions about your eligibility, please reach out to Rachelle A. Matthews (RAM), Director of Membership and Programs.
Technology
This funder call will take place via Zoom meetings. Registration will be open until May 20. If you do not receive your Zoom link or have technical issues logging into this call, please reach out to Rachelle A. Matthews.
This call will last 60 minutes.
WHEN
May 21, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3pm