GEO’s Strategic Direction

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) is pleased to share our new strategic direction as we continue the long-term work of transforming philanthropic culture and practice so that grantmakers work in service of nonprofits and communities. This new strategy carries forward our unwavering commitment to advancing racial equity, addressing the root causes of injustice, and transforming the philanthropic field. We understand that culture shapes strategy and strategy drives practice. As such, GEO seeks to shape the norms, values and behaviors of philanthropy in order to center philanthropic practice on operationalizing racial equity.

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We are mobilizing the GEO community— our members, partners, board, staff and other stakeholders—around an explicit and holistic direction that aligns us with our purpose, our commitment to racial equity and our role within the broader philanthropic ecosystem.

GEO’s organizational strategy clarifies our commitment to being a community of practice rooted in racial equity. We acknowledge that racial equity work is systems change work, and inherently intersectional. Also, we understand that intersecting systems of oppression such as racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, xenophobia and others demand direct and comprehensive action. To this end, GEO believes that centering philanthropic practice in racial equity principles is the key to supporting thriving nonprofits and communities.

Our strategic direction outlines transformative goals in the interconnected areas of culture, practice, learning and community. These goals underscore the imperative of grounding philanthropic culture in intersectional racial equity, advancing responsive and equitable practices, fostering a learning mindset, and effectively collaborating within a larger ecosystem to advance equity across sectors.