Free the People to Free the Money to Free the People is a gift to those involved in donor organizing and advising. Reading this new book reminded me how easily we forget how opaque this work can be to anyone outside of progressive philanthropy (or even many inside). This book offers a warm invitation to folks looking for clear insight into the movement. It offers the much-needed hopeful message that we are surrounded by much more support than we realize.
I received my copy when it was first released at Solidaire Network’s retreat in September. It resonated so deeply that I read the entire anthology over the next two days and appreciated it so much that I ordered 100 more copies (buying out the rest of their initial print run). We distributed them to all of the donor network leaders attending our Destination Impact gathering a few weeks later, because this book contains essential knowledge necessary to understanding the history of donor organizing.
The authors describe the book as follows: “For over fifty years, a growing movement has been quietly organizing wealthy people to redistribute their resources toward justice. From the radical rich kids of the 1970s to today’s cross-class coalitions, this is the most comprehensive collection of stories to date from the front lines of this work.” This is an honest and true description. (For once, a back cover blurb that you can believe in!)
Coupled with political analysis, this anthology offers the most intimate, candid and comprehensive storytelling of this work that I’ve seen written in decades. Stories from organizations such as Solidaire and Threshold Foundation (which have been central to my journey) give us a view across the field and while also diving deep on reflections that put donor organizing into a broader frame.
This book will interest any donor advisor, donor network leader or donor as it helps so much in making sense of the last 50 years and aligning with the present moment.
- If you’re a donor advisor or network leader, this book offers tried-and-true methods on how donors get organized and new strategies that inspire.
- If you’re a donor, this book is an instrumental tool in understanding how you might personally step up and how you fit into the history of progressive giving. Here, you will find how donor organizing connects to economics and ideas for future power building.
- If you’re leading a non-profit, you’ll glean valuable insight into how the money moves. It uplifts the differences and similarities between organizing people with wealth and power building (which is connected to but different from fundraising).
This book is a valuable contribution to our field and, in a time of scattered attacks on human rights and freedoms, will further serve as a unifying narrative that strengthens our work to mobilize resources for justice. I am so appreciative of the work of Mike Gast, Marian Moore, and Alex Tom to collect and share this anthology with the field and encourage you to add it to your bookshelf.
