This special recap Natural Collisions episode highlights the 2022 Detroit Capacity Building Forum. The forum was focused on one thing: investing differently in our nonprofits and our communities.

Conversations about investing often center on funders and those with financial power. When we reframe the conversation to include nonprofit employees, consultants, organizers, social justice advocates, and community residents, we open the way for transformative possibilities.

The goals of the Detroit Capacity Building Forum were:
1 - Explore how our ecosystem can invest differently in organizations, ideas, and people
2 - Honor those working to create more equitable funding landscapes
3 - Create a playbook that redefines investing and guides movements now and for the future

The Detroit Capacity Building Forum was a collaboration between Co.act Detroit and Michigan Community Resources. Hosted by Orlando Bailey. For more information, full sessions, and speaker bios visit - https://padlet.com/micommunityresources/how-we-invest-p5cd2ecf1mtzu42j

Sessions:
00:00 - Welcome
02:33 - 12 Recommendations for Detroit Funders
19:59 - Lightning Talk with Lisa Leverette - Nonprofits & Allies
30:02 - Shifting Funder-Nonprofit Power Dynamics
51:22 - Lightning Talk with Vu Le - Nonprofits & Allies
01:10:03 - Closing Information

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

The Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series was designed to build trust and challenge traditional roles and power dynamics between funders and regional nonprofit leaders.

The “colliders” for this conversation were all involved in a series of conversations between funding organizations and nonprofit leaders. These “brave spaces” provided an opportunity for nonprofits and philanthropic foundations to have a candid discussion to develop deeper, more trusting relationships in Michigan’s nonprofit sector.

The Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series was a collaboration between the Dorothy A. Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University and Co.act Detroit, with facilitation provided by The Eureka Group. For more information visit - https://coactdetroit.org/npfd/

00:00 - Welcome
02:18 - Guest Introductions
05:18 - Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series Explained
07:19 - Power Dynamics between Nonprofit & Funders
14:35 - Collaborative Efforts Creating Conversations
17:43 - Shared Recommendations & Discussion
35:50 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

GUESTS:
Maria Salinas, Executive Director - https://www.congressofcommunities.com/
Lesley Slavitt, Executive Director - https://johnsoncenter.org/
Kyle Caldwell, President & CEO - https://www.michiganfoundations.org/
Tameka Ramsey, Director - https://www.tramseyllc.com/
Allandra Bulger, Executive Director - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Investing in Nonprofit Wellness is a continuation of our “Fund Well Series,” a series of episodes focused on the importance of Funding Wellbeing for nonprofit leaders and teams.

The “colliders” for this conversation all play an important role in supporting the wellbeing of the communities they serve. Our guests understand the need to elevate the importance of healthy nonprofit work environments in the sector that prioritizes wellbeing. Join us to explore a few tactics and benefits of a wellbeing culture in the workplace.

00:00 - Welcome
01:23 - Guest Introductions
03:12 - The Importance of Wellbeing
11:22 - Challenges to BIPOC Healthy Work Environments
26:55 - Funding & Fostering Workplace Wellbeing
38:58 - Final Thoughts

GUESTS:
Yolo Akili Robinson, Founder and Executive Director - https://beam.community/
Asia Blaney, Grants Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/
Lily Salas, Community Investment Officer - https://www.kalfound.org/
Terry E. Whitfield, (former) Partnership Manager - https://www.skillman.org/
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Join us for an honest and thoughtful exploration of Wellness, Rest, and Liberation! This episode is an introduction to our “Fund Well Series,” a series of episodes focused on the importance of Funding Wellbeing for nonprofit leaders and teams.

The “colliders'' for this conversation all work intentionally to make the nonprofit workplace a healthier and happier environment. And, they understand that the only way to initiate this change is by being honest about where we are right now. And this conversation gets very honest - so be sure to listen to the very end.

GUESTS:
Kim Johnson, Founder, President and CEO - https://www.developingkids.org/
Heidi Alcock, Director of Grant Development and Communications - https://mcgregorfund.org/
Shamyle Dobbs, CEO - https://mi-community.org/
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
01:29 - Guest Introductions
03:26 - Rest, Wellness, and Liberation Explained
12:44 - Burnout Stories and Solutions
28:02 - Co.act Detroit Announcements
28:54 - The Push for Sabbaticals
46:45 - Final Thoughts
51:52 - Closing Information

Should participatory grantmaking be the new normal? Many funders are shifting decisions from boards to putting the decision-making process in the hands of the community which is most affected. Our Colliders discuss the effectiveness of this approach.

GUESTS:

• Leah Wiste, Executive Director - https://www.miipl.org/
• Rishi Moudgil, Shift Detroit & Former Executive Director - https://greenlightfund.org/sites/detroit/
• Bryan P. Hogle, Senior Program Manager - https://kresge.org/
• Lauren Boone, Grants Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
01:20 - Guest Introductions
02:56 - What is Participatory Grantmaking?
15:02 - KIP:D+ & the Participatory Grantmaking Experience
23:34 - Participatory Grantmaking is a Collaborative Process
28:54 - Final Thoughts