Expanding our pipeline by 25 times

Unlocking the Black Box in Philanthropy

Philanthropy has often grappled with deep-rooted inequities in funding, particularly disadvantaging organizations led by people of color, those with non-traditional educational backgrounds, and non-native English speakers. Traditional pipeline development processes, heavily reliant on personal networks, have perpetuated these disparities by favoring well-connected individuals and marginalizing deserving, yet underrepresented organizations.

In response to these systemic challenges, we  partnered with People Rocket to reexamine the funding pipeline. By leveraging human-centered algorithm design—a groundbreaking approach in the philanthropic sector—we were able to redesign the pipeline development process to be more inclusive and effective. This collaboration led to a remarkable 25-fold increase in the number of eligible organizations considered for funding. The human-centered design ensured that diverse perspectives were embedded in the process, significantly enhancing the representation and quality of grantee selection.

The collaboration culminated with the development of a comprehensive report highlighting the effectiveness of these new strategies in promoting fairness and diversity in philanthropy. It offers a practical roadmap for other organizations to adopt similar inclusive practices, reinforcing the importance of embracing diverse perspectives to address funding inequities. 

This transformative approach aligns with the principles of The M.I.C.™, reflecting our commitment to integrating diverse voices and expertise to improve outcomes. By expanding our funding pipeline, we not only advance our mission to build a more dynamic ecosystem but also exemplify how inclusive design can generate greater impact in philanthropy and beyond.

The report highlights the effectiveness of these new strategies in improving how philanthropy operates. It offers a practical roadmap for other organizations to adopt similar practices, reinforcing the importance of embracing new perspectives to address funding inefficiencies. For an in-depth look at the findings and their implications, explore the full report here: Unlocking the ‘Black Box’: Human-Centered Algorithm Design as a Tool for Inclusive Funding.

Building on the success of this partnership, we are partnering again with People Rocket to carry out a comprehensive landscape analysis of the mental health field. This study will explore the unique challenges and opportunities within youth mental health space, concentrating on uncovering systemic inequities and developing a systems map of the mental health ecosystem.  We seek to further advance access to innovative, culturally responsive opportunities for both entrepreneurs and funders in the mental health space.