Aaron Dorfman and Senowa Mize-Fox: Protecting Civil Society by Funding Front-line Orgs

In this episode, Kristine Michie explores philanthropy's critical challenges with Aaron Dorfman and Senowa Mize-Fox from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). They expose systemic gaps in funding: climate funders over-indexing on big orgs and tech solutions, foundations retreating from 2020 commitments, and the chronic under-resourcing of frontline organizations. For funders, nonprofit leaders, and movement builders, this conversation offers a powerful blueprint for more accountable, courageous philanthropic practice rooted in moral imagination.

Key Takeaways:

• Funders must restructure decision-making bodies to include people from the communities most affected by the issues at hand.
• Frontline climate justice organizations require long-term, flexible funding—short bursts of crisis giving are insufficient.
• The 5% annual payout requirement should be treated as a baseline, not a ceiling—especially during social and environmental emergencies. Like now!
• Mission-aligned investing is crucial: Foundations cannot claim to support climate justice, for example, while investing in fossil fuel companies.
• NCRP’s Power Moves toolkit offers a practical, equity-centered self-assessment for funders to evaluate how they build, share, and wield power.
• Silence from funders in politically hostile times weakens civil society—foundations must publicly support their grantees under attack.
• Embedding joy, play, and community care into organizational culture is essential for sustaining activism and leadership through adversity.

"[If funders are waiting for a rainy day] The rainy day here, and it’s a hurricane. The urgency is now increased; increase your payout even more and get that money out the door." — Senowa Mize-Fox

"An endowed private foundation has no natural predators. No one can put it out of business... They're not accountable to voters, consumers who buy their products, or a stock market." — Aaron Dorfman

"If you’re investing in things detrimental to the communities you purport to serve with your grant-making dollars, then you're not actually supporting those communities—and that cancels each other out... we’re finding that more than you'd think." — Senowa Mize-Fox

Episode References: 

Power Moves Toolkit: https://ncrp.org/power-moves/<