Funders for Family Leadership (FFL) has launched the Philanthropic Self-Reflection Tool for Equitable Parent Partnership for education funders and funder collaboratives supporting parent-led organizations.

As stated in our equity framework, the Heising-Simons Foundation believes that those closest to the problems we seek to address are best equipped to lead inclusive and culturally responsive solutions. For our Education program, that means working with and listening to parents. Parents know what their children need to thrive, and it is through their leadership that systems can become accountable and responsive to diverse families.

To support this ongoing process, which requires regular reflection, inquiry, and conversation, the Foundation is part of the FFL, a network of grantmaking professionals that focuses on meaningfully and authentically centering families and fostering family leadership to advance systemic equity.

FFL’s Philanthropic Self-Reflection Tool for Equitable Parent Partnership, created in close collaboration with United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN), provides a framework for funders and funder collaboratives to systematically assess how philanthropic systems and practices help or hurt authentic and equitable engagement with parent-led organizations. Rubrics in four domains that focus on learning and innovation, influence, internal organizational practice, and catalyzing impact guide reflection.

FFL and UPLAN are excited to share this tool with funders across geographies and sectors to introduce a systematic way of thinking about equity and justice in grantmaking.  Learn more about the tool, how to use it, and the FFL network here.