I’m involved with a direct giving non-profit called Loving Black Single Mothers. I’m paired with a Mom each holiday season and I send her cash once a month for 4 mos. I also give through Give Directly. I like the idea of giving my money directly to other people with no strings attached, trusting that they know what they need.
There’s so much potential here. I’ve worked in nonprofits for a long time, and groups can get so siloed with their missions and replicate efforts that someone is also doing across town. It’s expensive resource-wise and money-wise. I love the idea of folks supporting a certain population coming together under one roof, sharing resources, and coordinating their efforts.
I love the invitation to find alternatives to the nonprofit industrial complex which often leave me feeling like donations are more to relieve personal guilt than making a real impact.
I've also wondered a lot over the years about a microloan or mutual aid model for the Arts, to supplant grant funding that is often conditional or may require administrative bulk or a 501c3 status that many individual artists or artist collectives don't have
Ooh good share! Coralus out of Canada has a good model of mutual care and non-hierarchal community building … I would love to partner up and start a USA version of that if any ambitious doers are interested.
I think we need to figure this out as a society. How do you monetize mutual aid? I slightly disagree on the charity. I’m really involved in Rotary and appreciate how all of the projects are coordinated by local clubs all over the world. I’m still figuring out the social impact model for my marketing coaching business…
I love thinking about how to incorporate social impact into any work we do. I think you make a good point that there are a lot of ways to make this work, that we don't have to completely disregard charitable giving — these things can co-exist. While I appreciate a mutual aid model, my concern with it (which might also be its strength...) is how it individualizes care instead of institutionalizing it. Sometimes we need to step in this way to fill gaps, but I'm always in favor of holding our governments accountable for ensuring basic care for our communities, because they have such greater capacity for it.
Posted too soon 😝 I was saying, I also not sure we need throw out the current models + I love the way we are all participating in the modernization of giving and receiving.
Fascinating. I am curious why not make your business a co-op? The insights and principles labor movement and unionism I think might resolve some of the tension explicated so well here!
I’m involved with a direct giving non-profit called Loving Black Single Mothers. I’m paired with a Mom each holiday season and I send her cash once a month for 4 mos. I also give through Give Directly. I like the idea of giving my money directly to other people with no strings attached, trusting that they know what they need.
There’s so much potential here. I’ve worked in nonprofits for a long time, and groups can get so siloed with their missions and replicate efforts that someone is also doing across town. It’s expensive resource-wise and money-wise. I love the idea of folks supporting a certain population coming together under one roof, sharing resources, and coordinating their efforts.
I love the invitation to find alternatives to the nonprofit industrial complex which often leave me feeling like donations are more to relieve personal guilt than making a real impact.
I've also wondered a lot over the years about a microloan or mutual aid model for the Arts, to supplant grant funding that is often conditional or may require administrative bulk or a 501c3 status that many individual artists or artist collectives don't have
“nonprofit industrial complex” … this!!! Most money is going to the top to keep the nonprofit afloat. Work gets done but is a lot of excess.
Sera, have you heard of Earthlings Undone? They’re an organizer looking to connect with builders like you. https://earthlingsundone.notion.site/
Ooh good share! Coralus out of Canada has a good model of mutual care and non-hierarchal community building … I would love to partner up and start a USA version of that if any ambitious doers are interested.
I have not! Thx for the recommendation, I will check them out.
I think we need to figure this out as a society. How do you monetize mutual aid? I slightly disagree on the charity. I’m really involved in Rotary and appreciate how all of the projects are coordinated by local clubs all over the world. I’m still figuring out the social impact model for my marketing coaching business…
I love thinking about how to incorporate social impact into any work we do. I think you make a good point that there are a lot of ways to make this work, that we don't have to completely disregard charitable giving — these things can co-exist. While I appreciate a mutual aid model, my concern with it (which might also be its strength...) is how it individualizes care instead of institutionalizing it. Sometimes we need to step in this way to fill gaps, but I'm always in favor of holding our governments accountable for ensuring basic care for our communities, because they have such greater capacity for it.
Agreed I’m not sure we need to throw it out, I appreciate the
Posted too soon 😝 I was saying, I also not sure we need throw out the current models + I love the way we are all participating in the modernization of giving and receiving.
I also agree that government help is important because of economy of scale and making sure people don’t fall through the cracks
Fascinating. I am curious why not make your business a co-op? The insights and principles labor movement and unionism I think might resolve some of the tension explicated so well here!
This is dope, I especially love the profit redistribution model! How is the business structured, is it a co-op or something similar?