Trust is essential for effective philanthropy, especially when working with beneficiaries who may have different backgrounds, needs, and expectations. Building trust with beneficiaries can help you understand their perspectives, collaborate on solutions, and measure your impact. But how can you build trust with beneficiaries in a respectful and meaningful way? Here are some tips to consider.
One of the best ways to build trust with beneficiaries is to listen to them and learn from them. Don't assume that you know what they want or need, or that you have the best answers. Instead, engage them in dialogue, ask open-ended questions, and listen actively and empathically. Learn about their context, challenges, aspirations, and feedback. Show that you value their input and that you are willing to adapt your approach based on their insights.
This takes time, especially in a charity working with very vulnerable adults. Trust can only build over time. Show your own vulnerabilities. Make people feel like you are working alongside them. We are tackling their issues together. No-one likes things to be done to them. Poverty Truth Commission have a mantra 'Nothing about us is for us without us' Many decisions are made around people who don't feel they have a voice, without them ever being present. It's hard to understand someone unless you have walked a mile in their shoes, but with patience & a listening ear people will tell their story if they feel they can trust you won't go telling everyone. We found the best way of approaching people in need is to provide a meal & eat with them.
For an organization to effectively tackle a problem, it is crucial to begin by articulating the problem clearly and crafting a solid theory of change. Progressing forward, the organization should utilize output and outcome metrics to shape the questions directed toward stakeholders. These inquiries can manifest as either qualitative or quantitative. Employing an AI-driven impact measurement platform to pose open-ended questions can expedite the insight-gathering process, enhancing program improvement efforts. This method facilitates swift modifications with constrained resources. Success is more attainable for organizations when they garner unbiased data, foster trust, and pose streamlined questions.
Feedback loops are a great way of building trust with beneficiaries. Involving them in program design at the outset, and conferring with them to understand if and how the program is (or is not!) meeting their needs is crucial in building a trusting relationship and ensuring that your programming is a fit for the community.
Building trust with beneficiaries in philanthropy is vital for meaningful impact. To do so, engage in active listening, respect their diverse backgrounds, involve them in decision-making, and maintain transparency. Demonstrating genuine empathy and a commitment to their well-being fosters trust, enabling collaboration and effective measurement of progress.
Another way to build trust with beneficiaries is to be transparent and accountable about your goals, strategies, and results. Share your vision, mission, and values, and explain how they align with the beneficiaries' interests and needs. Communicate your plans, progress, and challenges, and report on your outcomes and impact. Be honest about your limitations, mistakes, and failures, and show how you learn from them. Invite beneficiaries to hold you accountable and to participate in monitoring and evaluation.
A third way to build trust with beneficiaries is to respect and empower them as partners and agents of change. Respect their dignity, rights, and autonomy, and avoid imposing your agenda or values on them. Empower them to make decisions, take action, and lead change in their own communities. Provide them with resources, opportunities, and support, but don't create dependency or paternalism. Recognize their strengths, achievements, and contributions, and celebrate their success.
Empower them by giving them real power. Beneficiaries should be on your board of directors, ideally in the majority! Can you imagine a women's group without women on the board? Canada's National Anti Poverty Organization (NAPO) had a board that was 100% currently or recently on welfare. (PS 100% of the NAPO board made financial donations, although some were small, and that was a powerful push for others to give.) Okay, there maybe a few exceptions, such as a group for children or people with advanced dementia. Or you may need a lawyer on the board and not find one who is also a beneficiary. Charity should be us helping each other, not privileged rich helping underprivileged poor.
A fourth way to build trust with beneficiaries is to collaborate and co-create with them on solutions that address their needs and aspirations. Don't design or deliver programs or services without involving the beneficiaries in the process. Instead, invite them to share their ideas, opinions, and experiences, and to co-design and co-deliver solutions that are relevant, appropriate, and sustainable. Foster a culture of collaboration and co-creation that encourages innovation, experimentation, and feedback.
Beneficiaries usually know what they need and the compromises they can endure. Let them set the parameters and then use your skills to make it happen. Remember nothing is perfect and most of the time recognising where things go wrong, or can be the best route to improvement. Developing WITH beneficiaries often creates powerful responses to problems, and that creates more trust (both ways)
A fifth way to build trust with beneficiaries is to build relationships and networks with them and among them. Don't treat them as passive recipients or beneficiaries, but as active stakeholders and allies. Connect with them on a personal and human level, and show genuine interest, care, and empathy. Build rapport, mutual understanding, and shared values. Connect them with other beneficiaries, organizations, and resources that can support their goals and challenges. Strengthen their social capital and sense of belonging.
A sixth way to build trust with beneficiaries is to cultivate trustworthiness and credibility as a philanthropist or a philanthropic organization. Demonstrate your competence, reliability, integrity, and benevolence in all your interactions and actions. Deliver on your promises, meet your commitments, and follow through on your responsibilities. Act ethically, responsibly, and respectfully. Show that you are motivated by a genuine desire to help and to make a positive difference.
One thing I found useful was when working with beneficiaries giving them the space and fund for them to design their own programme is more impact full. As a funder it is better.to give core fund and trust charities are.best placed to decide how to use the funds
You have to trust, to be trusted. It may seem obvious, but until you trust your beneficiaries, why would they trust you? Of course, to trust is not to be blind to what's going on, and confronting problems is part of a trusting relationship.