Disrupting Secretive and Insular Funding Mechanisms: The Potential of Participatory Grant-making

Seemab Farooqi, Vicky Lambert (Lead / Corresponding author), Xia Shu, Jim Haslam

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

    Abstract

    Traditional grant-making has attracted numerous criticisms for its narrow top-down approach which has been reported as entailing a multitude of onerous requirements and leading to negative consequences for recipient organisations. Traditional approaches are deemed to be secretive and insular, potentially perpetuating inequalities and reinforcing unequal power dynamics within funding relationships. Under traditional grant-making structures, those most affected by the decisions around funding allocations are absent from the process. This paper explores the potential of participatory grant-making (PGM) as a way of overcoming the deficiencies of traditional structures. PGM is an approach which focuses on shifting the power from grant-makers to marginalised individuals and communities who are most impacted by funding decisions. Although interest and application of PGM is gaining momentum in practice, it is substantively absent from the academic literature. This paper seeks to develop conceptualisation of PGM through practitioner discourse and offers suggestions for future research in this area. Critical dialogic accountability is utilised to articulate PGM as a way of reshaping traditional grant-making structures which emphasise monologic accountability. PGM represents a form of dialogic accountability, challenging power imbalances and recognising marginalised voices within the grant-making process. A conceptual framework is proposed, with PGM identified as a movement which seeks to align funding with social causes, emphasising shifting power to marginalised communities, placing them at the centre of the decision-making process, and is grounded in meaningful participation and inclusion. It offers radical potential to mobilize philanthropy towards systemic impacts by shifting who decides based on equitable participation and centring those experiencing injustice.

    Conference

    ConferenceGovernance and accountability in reshaping public services
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityDurham
    Period11/12/2312/12/23
    OtherWorkshop organised by International Centre of Public Accountability (ICOPA)
    Internet address

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