Shaady Salehi: Tackling Common Misconceptions about Trust-Based Philanthropy
Trust-based philanthropy is becoming increasingly well-known among grantmakers—but do funders really understand how to incorporate the values and tenets of this movement in an effort to shift power?
The fourth episode of Impact Audio focuses on common misconceptions about trust-based grantmaking, with insight from Shaady Salehi, Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. Launched in January of 2020, this project is a peer-to-peer advocacy and learning initiative dedicated to making trust-based practices the norm in the philanthropic sector.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What inspired (and demanded) the trust-based movement
- Why trust doesn’t imply negligence or endanger compliance
- What real support and genuine relationships look like
- Why equity and trust-based philanthropy are not the same thing
- The difference between crisis response and long-term relationship-building
Drawn from a longer conversation on the values behind trust-based philanthropy, as well as strategies and tech tips, these excerpts include key learning for better grantmaking. We hope you enjoy listening.

Shaady Salehi is a strategist, facilitator, and network builder who has dedicated nearly 20 years to the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, a 5-year learning and advocacy initiative to make trust-based practices the norm in the philanthropic sector. She is also Principal and Founder of Skyview Strategies, a social impact consultancy for nonprofits, foundations, and changemakers. Her work in the nonprofit sector has spanned many roles -- from department head, to executive director, to board member -- and her main body of work has centered on using film, media, and strategic communications to advance social change.
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