Welcome back to episode 9 of Women in Philanthropy!
In this episode, Jessica Middleton discusses her role as a social insights (not impact) specialist. Drawing together experiences in research, charities, and grantmaking, Jessica weaves together information on emerging needs, funding priorities, and grantmaking approaches.
Jessica challenges us to consider how we approach research and data within the philanthropic field. Are we being intentional about how much we are asking of our grantees and research participants? For which purposes? To what ends?
She describes the power imbalances within funding, but also within research, and challenges that the pursuit of impact might be part of the problem.
Her use of the term "social insights" is an intentional shift away from impact. She is passionate about how we use language in philanthropy, as it often props up the power imbalance through exclusionary and jargon-filled terms.
Listen to why Jessica thinks impact is the worst jargon and how the field needs a role to facilitate greater sharing of organisational processes beyond grantmaking transparency.
(Note: We were so wrapped up in the language conversation I forgot to ask Jessica the "most inspiring trend". Needless to say, I think the conversation on language is an important answer.)
You can learn more about Jessica here.
TL; DL?: Check out Jessica's thoughts and resources in the Episode Notes linked here.
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Women in Philanthropy is a podcast by and for women working in the giving and social impact sector. Fundraisers, grantmakers, advisors. You
can't always see behind the scenes in giving, which means you can't see who enables this giving. This podcast hopes to connect women across the sector and borders. It seeks to amplify women's experiences working in philanthropy, which have too often been overlooked in our research and histories.
We look forward to bringing you ~15-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.
Click the link for the website & more information on the Women in Philanthropy podcast.
If you are a Woman in Philanthropy and want to share your story, please email mfgartner@mfgchange.com
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The podcast is generously supported by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network. VSSN functions to promote the advancement of knowledge about, and understanding of, organisations between the market and the state. It provides a virtual and actual meeting point for scholars and researchers both outside and within the voluntary (third or non-profit) sector(s), with a shared analytic interest in this set of institutions.
It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus. Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/.
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