http://www.nfg.org/demdev_participatorybudgeting_webinar This Neighborhood Funders Group webinar will examine democratic and participatory models where community stakeholders help decide how public and philanthropic resources should be allocated. We will explore different ways participatory resource sharing can deepen democracy, form stronger communities, and build trust. Our discussion will also examine equitable and effective ways funders and community partners can collaborate. Speakers: - Josh Lerner, PhD | Executive Director, Participatory Budgeting Project - Tyler Nickerson | Director of Investments and State Strategy, The Solutions Project

1. Governance, Participatory Budgeting and
Grantmaking Webinar
Speakers:
Josh Lerner, PhD | Executive Director, Participatory Budgeting Project
Tyler Nickerson | Director of Investments and State Strategy, Solutions Project
Moderator:
Nile K. Malloy, Senior Program Manager, Neighborhood Funders Group

2. Outcome 1: A robust national network of funders and field leaders with deep knowledge,
growing relationships and shared framing of democratizing development to bring much higher
levels of funding to the issues.
Outcome 2: More NFG members and field partners are engaged in democratizing efforts in
specific regions and cities and are establishing a strong national community of practice across
regions.
Outcome 3: National fund supporting regional funder alliances and a national agenda to
advance the innovative work in regions to advance democratized community development.
Outcome 4: Our member and NFG are better positioned as thought leaders across the country.
Outcome 5: More NFG members practicing community-centered philanthropy.
Key Three Year Outcomes

3. Speaker Intro Question
Participatory resource sharing of public and philanthropic resources is
not new. Many funders on the call are already supporting participatory
budgeting strategies across. In our current political moment and one of
the most challenging national election seasons in the history of this
country, why is participatory and community involved resource sharing
important to you and your work?

4. PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING
Real Money, Real Power
www.participatorybudgeting.org
Josh Lerner | @joshalerner
Executive Director

5. “We knew about grants
before but this was different.
Everyone participated and
pitched their ideas for what
they wanted to see… People
saw how passionate we were
and from that, we were able
to implement our project!”
- ROSE, 19
YOUTH LEADER
BROTHERHOOD-SISTERSOL, NYC

6. “Just 19% [of Americans]
say the government is run
for the benefit of all.”
–PEW RESEARCH CENTER NOVEMBER, 2015
@PBProject participatorybudgeting.or g

7. Participatory budgeting
is a democratic process in which community members directly decide
how to spend part of a public budget.

8. Design the
Process Brainstorm
Ideas
Develop
Proposals
Fund Winning
Projects Cast a
Vote
How PB Works

9. REDESIGNING
DEMOCRACY

10. THE PROBLEMS WITH
PARTICIPATION
PAINFUL

11. THE PROBLEMS WITH
PARTICIPATION
UNEQUAL

12. I participate
You participate
He participates
We participate
You all participate
They decide
(French student poster)
THE PROBLEMS WITH
PARTICIPATION
POWERLESS

13. REDESIGNING DEMOCRACY FOR
EMPOWERED PARTICIPATION
Expert-centered Participant-centeredvs

14. HOW PB WORKS

15. https://vimeo.com/162743651

16. Where is PB?

17. What Kind of Budgets?
• City, county, state budgets
• Discretionary funds of elected officials
• Housing authority or other public agency budgets
• School, school district, university budgets
• Federal funds (e.g. Community Development Block
Grants)
• Community Benefit Agreements
• Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
• Non-governmental sources like foundation or non-profit
budgets

18. VALLEJO, CA

19. NEW YORK CITY

21. BOSTON, MA

22. PALO ALTO COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
SAN ANTONIO

23. TORONTO

24. IMPACTS

25. BROAD & ACTIVE
CIVIC PARTICIPATION

26. Participants report
increased skills in public
speaking, negotiating,
building agreements, and
contacting officials.
VALLEJO:
20% of PB voters
were ineligible to vote
in regular elections
NYC:
Higher percentage of low-income
residents voted in PB (40%) compared
to full population (34%) & local
elections (29%)

27. HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES

28. Participants report
increased skills in public
speaking, negotiating,
building agreements, and
contacting officials.

29. EFFECTIVE & FAIR
GOVERNMENT

30. “PB brings new people into
a leadership relationship
with government…they
teach government to
operate better.”
-CARLOS MENCHACA, NYC COUNCIL MEMBER
@PBProject participatorybudgeting.or g

31. Supporting Broader Democracy Efforts

32. PB FOR
ORGANIZATIONS

33. PB2

34. Who We Are
MISSION To empower people to decide together how
to spend public money.
HISTORY
WHERE WE
WORK
Across the US and Canada, with staff in
New York City, Oakland, Chicago, and
Greensboro.
Founded in 2009,we have led, supported,
or inspired almost every PB process in
North America.

35. What We Do
PARTICIPATION
LAB
We research and develop new tools and
practices to make participatory budgeting and
democracy work better.
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
NETWORK-
BUILDING
We bring together practitioners and organizers
to help participatory budgeting grow.
We help governments,institutions,and
organizations to implement PB processes and
campaigns.

36. @PBProject

37. @PBProject

39. Josh Lerner
josh@participatorybudgeting.org
T: @PBProject | @joshalerner
F: /ParticipatoryBudgetingProject
www.participatorybudgeting.org

40. NFG Funder Webinar: Governance, Participatory Budgeting and
Grantmaking
October 26, 2017

41. • Formally launched in 2015
• Mission: 100% clean energy for 100% of the people
• 100% campaign
• Grantmaker in climate justice and clean energy
• Part of ecosystem-wide approach to movement building
• Foundation of trusting relationships
The Solutions Project Overview

42. • Supporting power building, community owned
demonstration project, and just transition strategies
• Rapid Response – Fighter Fund
• General Operating Support – Leadership Fund
• Movement Infrastructure – Ecosystem Fund
• U.S., Canada, and Mexico with a focus in New York,
California, Iowa, and the American South
• Utilize ”cross class” giving > greater democratic influence
Grantmaking

43. Governance
TSP
Board
Leadership
Fund CommitteeInvestors
Executive
Director
Staff
Fighter
Fund
Referral
Network
Grantee Partners
In Service to:

44. • Grantee Committee member strong, but working to not
“other”
• Transaction > Transformation
• Staff has a lot of influence
• Nimbleness
• Limited perspective & targeting
• Investments into balance of power and information sharing
Early Lessons Learned

45. Goal: Smart investment decisions are made, transparency is demonstrated, and resources grow.
Moving Towards Deeper Democracy
Body Year 1 Goal Year 1 Benchmarks
Board -Expand education on funds and grants
-Better connect Investor <> Board
-Board to vote Chair of LF Committee
-One board meeting has space for grantmaking
strategy deep dive
-Two board members meet with investors
Leadership Fund
Committee
-Committee members are better informed
and engaged on evaluation, grant
reporting, and board activity
-Support to diversify LF grant
recommendation pipeline
-30% of annual docket comes from LF
committee recommendations
-One Member engaged in evaluation design
-Two members attend a site visit/individual
meetings
-Members attend grantee convening
Fighter Fund Network -Engaged and open streams of
communication
-Referrals begin and are deemed viable
-7 members added and 3 communications per
year
-10% of grants come from referrals
Investors -Better informed on impact
-Deeper engagement with Board
-Review evaluation benchmarks
-Twice a year send grantee list and overview of
state strategy
-Meeting with Board members
Grantees -Leadership Fund committee engagement
-Seed recommendations for grantmaking
-Engage in two LF Committee meetings
-50% of referrals received and deemed viable
DRAFT &
UNAPPROVED

46. Contact Information
• Josh Lerner, PhD | Executive Director, Participatory Budgeting Project:
josh@participatorybudgeting.org| www.participatorybudgeting.org
• Tyler Nickerson | Director of Investments and State Strategy, The Solutions
Project: tyler@thesolutionsproject.org| www.thesolutionsproject.org
• Additional, question and comments: please contact Nile Malloy, Senior
Program Manager, NFG Democratizing Development Program,
nile@nfg.org
Thank you for your participation!