April 30th, 2024

To kick off the Economic Justice Initiative (EJI) for 2024, the group met to understand the history and intentions for the space. Unlike future meetings, this first meeting was led by EDGE staff to ensure participants have the full picture of the newly launched EJI.

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Main takeaways from the conversation

Framing, history, more on this EDGE x Wellspring collaboration:

The EJI is the only grant-supported initiative at EDGE and it is an experiment we are running with Wellspring. It emerged from a strategic consultation involving feminist economists and movement representatives who partner/ed with Wellspring. This consultation underscored the necessity for spaces that allow groups to strategize independently, without rigid agendas forcing them to conform to predefined declarations or policies.
This space is intended to provide resources and facilitate engagement with funders and movements, enhancing intersectionality.
The choice of locating this initiative within EDGE was strategic, recognizing EDGE’s tradition of bridging movements and funders while being attentive to power dynamics and fostering intersectional approaches. EDGE’s role is to find a way for a continuation of this conversation within the philanthropic sector.
The intention is to nurture this space with care and trust, enabling diverse priorities to surface and flourish to reshape economic narratives and practices.
In defining what economic justice means, it is not about formulating a very narrow definition but bringing together different visions of what a just world means for people in the global economy.

Do we need MORE recommendations to donors and grantmakers? What is the need this initiative is serving?

This question raises a concern about the necessity and impact of repeatedly giving recommendations to donors who could potentially access this information through readily available resources through a google search. This highlights a need to understand if the repetition of recommendations serves merely to reiterate existing knowledge or to inspire and motivate action.
There’s an expressed need for direct dialogue with donors to foster a deeper understanding of the issues, particularly those related to feminist perspectives and economic justice.
The value of creating spaces for influencing but that are not bound to specific outcomes is emphasized, aligning with feminist principles that advocate for the freedom to reimagine without a predetermined endpoint. These spaces allow for authentic discussions that are rare but critical for deep engagement among activists. They are also rare so this initiative can fill that gap.
Even though the information is out there, perhaps continuous, sometimes repetitive, dialogue is essential for ensuring that important concepts take root within the philanthropic community.
It is noted that while women’s rights funds may grasp the nuances of feminist approaches more readily, economic justice funds, which often have larger budgets, may lack an understanding of these perspectives. This gap underscores the importance of tailored communication strategies that bridge understanding across different types of funding bodies.
Perhaps through the (developing) outcomes of this space, there could be a way for engaging donors who are not familiar with more progressive funding approaches. This helps to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation.

Aspirations from the initiative space

The importance of integrating diverse voices in ways that are mutually beneficial.
Recognizing the personal aspects of those working within funding institutions, emphasizing the need for understanding and trust-building between funders and movement representatives to navigate power dynamics effectively.
Creating opportunities within the initiative for participants to build and use collective power within the group to advocate for economic justice.
Beyond the initiative, it is important to leverage that power to be in conversation with more traditional funders and find ways to influence funders that believe that capitalism is okay for example.
Clarifying “Feminist Economic Justice” as a concept in a way that encompasses various aspects of the justice economy. Understanding the roles and influences of different actors is essential for framing effective advocacy.
Working on a mapping of some sorts might be needed to divide responsibilities.