Can we talk about...? A podcast on leading for racial equity in philanthropy · Philanthropy Northwest

Aisha Al-Amin, Heidi Pelletier and Musu Bakoto Sawo on saying ‘no’ to donors when values don’t align, and building equitable long-term giving strategies

·49 min·3 clips

Aisha says a longtime donor threatened a legacy plan over Social Justice Fund's statement on Palestinian liberation.

The episode opens from the premise that saying no to donors is hard, especially in community philanthropy where relationships are everything. That tension becomes the thread running through the conversation. The guests argue that a clear no, when paired with an explanation, can invite donors into something deeper rather than push them away. They frame that move as a request for trust in community knowledge and in the organization’s judgment. The discussion keeps returning to the idea that lasting change depends on more than the size of a gift. It depends on whether the funding relationship can hold shared values. The show also asks how organizations signal those values in public. Websites, communication materials, and community presence all become part of that answer. The guests describe leading publicly and naming values without softening the message just to protect donor comfort. They make the case that communities should come first, even while donor dollars help the work keep going. The conversation then gets more specific about equity language and the difference between broad agreement and racial equity itself. One guest describes working in Central Washington, where people readily acknowledge wealth divides but do not all agree when the conversation turns racial. That distinction opens onto the political climate around the work, and the guests note that current political rhetoric is making these conversations harder. Even so, they keep the tone practical rather than bleak. A soapbox snack break on products that make no sense briefly loosens the pace and gives the episode a human, lightly playful turn. The episode stays rooted in peers reflecting on how philanthropy can be used well. It asks listeners to think about values as something enacted, not just named. It leaves room for discomfort without turning theatrical. The result is a conversation about boundaries, partnership, and the patient work of equity.

As heard by us

A steady look at saying no to donors, holding values, and building stronger partnerships.

The episode treats donor refusal as part of community philanthropy, not as a dead end: a clear no, paired with a brief reason, can open the door to stronger and more durable partnerships.

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Why you'd press play

When you need language for saying no to donors without closing the door.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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