613. A Community-Centric Approach to Philanthropy - Rachel D'Souza
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Overview
What does it mean to truly center community in philanthropy?
Meet Rachel D’Souza, Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of Gladiator Consulting. 🤝 A leading voice in the Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) movement, Rachel shares her perspective on systems change in resource development, balancing donor expectations with equity, and how to drive long-term systems change over short-term solutions.
In this moment of unprecedented challenge for nonprofits, Rachel offers a roadmap for survival, collaboration, and meaningful change. Nonprofit leaders need a new approach—one that centers community, embraces vulnerability, and dismantles outdated systems. Listen in for bold insights, real talk, and a call to action for the future of fundraising. 🎧
Key Takeaways:
✔ What Community-Centric Fundraising is and why it matters
✔ How nonprofits can own their narrative in donor conversations
✔ Creative approaches to self-funding and collaboration in the sector
Today’s Guest
Rachel D’Souza, Founder + Principal, Gladiator Consulting
“I am building a world I may not ever get a chance to see. And it actually doesn’t matter, because I need to know that I did everything that I could do, so that two or three or seven generations from now, our community is thriving.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode Highlights
Rachel’s story and journey to where she is today (1:00)
A community centric approach to philanthropy (9:00)
A historical context of philanthropy (15:00)
Navigating the current social impact landscape (22:00)
Owning our narrative: navigating intentional + honest conversations with donors (29:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Rachel’s life (34:00)
Rachel’s One Good Thing: Find your nonprofit soulmate. And bust your knees - try so hard that you bite it and you have to get back up and keep going. (39:00)
Powerful Quotes
"I am building a world I may not ever get a chance to see. And it actually doesn't matter, because I need to know that I did everything that I could do, so that two or three or seven generations from now, our community is thriving." -Rachel
“We are stronger together. There is not one organization, there is not one superstar fundraiser... that's going to solve it, fix it, save us. There is nobody coming." -Rachel
“Philanthropy is not going to be able to pick up the slack for changes in federal giving, and philanthropy is not moving that fast either." -Rachel
“Relationships move at the speed of trust, not by anyone's clock." -Rachel
"I need you to try so hard that you bite it and it sucks. And you have to set up and clean up the debris out of your wounds, and muscle up and keep going." -Rachel
“What if we brought together a group of our community members and our donors, and we let them organically have their own conversations and form their own conclusions?" -Rachel
"What if there's more that we have in common than what divides us?" -Rachel
“If we're scared, if we're worried, we need to say that we're scared or worried." -Rachel
Resources Mentioned:
Community Centric Fundraising website
Follow Rachel D'Souza's work through Gladiator Consulting
Connect with Tosha Phonix, Executive Director of A.C.R.E.S.
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