13:01, 14 March 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
In March 2024, Echoing Green and MPHI’s Center for Culturally Responsive Engagement (CCRE) released The Weight of Power: The Role of Metrics & Evaluation at the Intersection of Social Justice, a groundbreaking report that shines a light on the persistent power imbalances in the world of philanthropy. The report details how shifting power dynamics between philanthropic funders and the social innovators they support can lead to more equitable, sustainable, and effective social impact.
At the heart of the findings is a call to reimagine philanthropy. The report advocates for dismantling the traditional power walls that have often separated funders from the communities they aim to serve. Through a deep survey of social innovators, predominantly based in the United States, the research uncovers a broader global truth: equitable social impact is not just about funding, but about trusting relationships, community-led metrics, and long-term partnerships.
Smiley News sat down with Liza Mueller, Echoing Green’s Vice President of Knowledge & Thought Leadership to discuss the research and how what was learnt through the report can bring about a new era to current philanthropy.
Before delving into the report, it’s important to highlight the work of Echoing Green. Dedicated to empowering the next generation of changemakers, Echoing Green offers a platform for social entrepreneurs to transform bold ideas into real-world solutions. At the core of this is their fellowship programme, providing funding, mentorship, and resources to help leaders scale their impact and create lasting, positive change globally.
With nearly 20 years of experience in programme evaluation and research, Liza Mueller has been instrumental in transforming Echoing Green’s systems and strategic planning to maximise their impact. She is a passionate advocate for social change, rooted in trust and community, and contributes extensively to research on racial equity and social entrepreneurship.
One of the primary revelations of the report is the importance of trust-based relationships between funders and social innovators. Philanthropic funding has often been dictated by top-down approaches, where funders define the metrics of success. However, Echoing Green’s research shows that when communities define their own metrics of success, social innovators can more effectively address the specific needs and aspirations of those they serve.
“The shift towards community-defined metrics isn't just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for creating a truly impactful social innovation ecosystem,” says Liza.
She continues to note that this change requires a significant shift in how success is measured. “Funders must move away from their own predefined impact metrics and instead engage deeply with the communities they aim to support,” she explains.
The key to success lies in building a framework where measurement is adaptive, responsive, and rooted in the lived experiences of those closest to the issues.
This approach is particularly crucial for addressing the disparities in resource access, which disproportionately affect BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) leaders and grassroots organisations. These groups often find themselves at the mercy of systems that do not understand their unique challenges.
Liza’s insights suggest that funders must engage in active listening, expand their networks, and collaborate with intermediaries who have proximate knowledge of the communities they wish to support.
Another critical finding of the report is the recognition that social innovation often requires time and trust to flourish. Rather than relying on short-term grants, the research suggests that funders should consider longer-term partnerships and multi-year funding models that enable innovators to create lasting impact.
As Liza points out, these extended commitments allow relationships to mature and innovative solutions to show tangible outcomes.
“If we’re serious about social impact, we have to move beyond short-term funding cycles. Real change takes time,” Liza explains.
Such a shift is not without its challenges, as many funders remain resistant to changing established metrics and practices. However, Liza believes that there is growing discontent with traditional measurement systems, particularly among social innovators who have long struggled with the limitations of current practices.
“The push for more responsive evaluation is not just a theoretical ideal—it’s something that is actively being demanded by those on the frontlines,” she states.
One of the most compelling aspects of The Weight of Power is its examination of power dynamics within the philanthropic space. The report argues that for real progress to be made, funders must relinquish some of their control and allow social innovators to lead the way.
This means recognising the expertise of local leaders and organisations who have the most intimate understanding of their communities’ needs.
Liza builds on by delving into the importance of these community-based leaders and the unique insights they bring: “We can’t expect a one-size-fits-all solution. What works in one community may not work in another. That’s why empowering local leaders is crucial.”
Looking forward, the report anticipates a future where social impact evaluation is far more responsive to the ever-changing needs of communities. This could manifest in the growth of working groups, consulting firms, and educational courses dedicated to teaching responsive evaluation methods.
Ultimately, the goal is to create an ecosystem that is not only more flexible but also more grounded in the real, evolving needs of the communities it serves. The focus on adaptive measurement could pave the way for a more sustainable social impact landscape, where success is not just defined by numerical outputs but by the long-term wellbeing and empowerment of communities.
As the report gains traction, it is sparking important conversations within philanthropic circles. Echoing Green and MPHI’s CCRE hope that the insights presented in the report will encourage a shift towards funding more innovative, community-driven solutions.
The hope is that funders will move away from traditional approaches and embrace new, adaptive, and collaborative models that place the needs of communities at the forefront.
For social innovators, the report has been a source of validation, providing them with a framework to advocate for the changes they need. Liza continues to express her belief that this kind of advocacy is key to transforming the philanthropic landscape: “The conversation is already changing, but it will take ongoing advocacy and a willingness to challenge long-standing assumptions about how philanthropy works.”
The release of The Weight of Power marks a critical moment for the world of philanthropy. It presents a blueprint for how social innovation can be more equitable, responsive, and impactful. By prioritising trust-based relationships, embracing community-led success metrics, and rethinking traditional power dynamics, the report offers a new path forward for philanthropists, social innovators, and communities alike.
Read the report and all its findings here: https://echoinggreen.org/the-weight-of-power/
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Echoing Green. This global organisation based in the US supports early-stage social entrepreneurs by providing them with the funding, mentorship, and resources they need to scale their innovative ideas for social impact. Find out more.
The Open Society Foundations. Founded by George Soros, this organisation promotes democracy, human rights, and social justice around the world, with a strong commitment to building power in communities that are most impacted by injustice. Learn more here.
Center for Culturally Responsive Engagement (CCRE). This organisation focuses on advancing social justice by promoting culturally relevant and community-driven approaches in philanthropy and social innovation. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Reduced Inequalities, Partnerships For The Goals.
