Partner Profile: The Right Relations Collaborative
As part of the All Together Bold learning community, dedicated to fostering justice and equity, we delve into the values shaping our leadership. In our virtual Quarterly Conversations, we explore distinctive philanthropic approaches, spotlighting transformative initiatives. In the first of these public events, we heard from The Right Relations Collaborative, and, below, offer an overview of their innovative ways to reshape philanthropy.
Centering community, participatory grantmaking, and trust-based philanthropy are ways funding practices have been framed to correct the power imbalance in philanthropic systems. In what is colonially known as British Columbia, Canada, The Right Relations Collaborative (RRC) takes a groundbreaking approach. In moving away from the extractive financial system that birthed the philanthropic industry, a shared gift-making practice emerged with community-rooted Indigenous change makers and aligned philanthropic partners.
Founded in 2020 during the adaptive response to the pandemic, RRC emerged from a vision to care for the community through a power-corrected relationship with funders. It formed at the intersection of “upholding community leadership and reducing barriers to support.” Co-leads Cúagilákv (Jess Housty) and Kim Hardy, envisioning a departure from structures of capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy, now, with Collaborative members, boldly chart a new course for philanthropy based on collaboration, support, and abundance. What follows is an introduction to the core tenants of their model for being in relationship.
Shared Leadership
Cúagilákv and Kim serve as Co-Leads with The Aunties Council as a governing body. Cúagilákv is of Heiltsuk and mixed settler ancestry. They are a community organizer from Bella Bella. Kim is a settler of Scottish and Northumberland ancestry in what is colonially known as Victoria, British Columbia. She works at the intersection of philanthropy and Indigenous communities. The co-lead model intentionally combines the experiences of grassroots Indigenous heartwork with Settler philanthropy.
Marilyn Baptiste, Nuskmata (Jacinda Mack) and K’aayhlt’aa Haanas Valine Brown serve on The Aunties Council. These Indigenous community leaders have been instrumental in the design of the Collaborative, the way it interacts with funders and in deciding where the dollars flow. Reflecting Indigenous community dynamics, The Aunties Council emphasizes the pivotal role of women in significant decision-making.
Cúagilákv explains, “[The Aunties Council sets] the table in terms of values and practices that guide what we do. They are the ones who are giving direction to Kim and I for how to manifest this vision for better relationships. The role that Kim and I play is in keeping them from extraction and amplifying their wisdom; taking that wisdom and creating.”
Rooted in Reciprocity
RRC embraces the reciprocal nature of relationships, fostering trust without the extractive and traumatic elements pervasive in traditional funder-grantee dynamics. Cúagilákv notes the challenge of exposing personal trauma to justify grants, prompting RRC to develop an Engagement Framework. This framework protects the reputation of the Collaborative, guides funders to disconnect from harmful systems, and fosters trust through shared values.
The Engagement Framework, an application for funders, requires sharing money stories — the origins of the money stewarded and understanding wealth creation harms — and existing tools and metrics for working differently. Potential funders engage in extensive conversations with RRC prior to submission in order to cultivate trust, unpack their relationship with Indigenous communities and determine if there are values and investment alignment.
RRC asks funders to engage in reflective and vulnerable dialogue that challenges deep-seeded beliefs and practices about power, authority and worthiness. Cúagilákv commented on this to the Just Economies Institute: “I had some fear that funders wouldn’t want to engage with the hard work that we were asking them to do. Funders ostensibly benefit from being in the position of power; why would they want to challenge that or cede power? I worried that people weren’t going to embrace the opportunity to do things differently. And it has been beautiful to see the whole hearts that our funders show up with, both when they’re filling out the engagement frameworks, and also on an ongoing basis, with The Aunties Council and with the Collaborative.”
There were also fears and questions about what the Collaborative’s internal practice of the Engagement Framework would be. “I wasn’t sure if there were going to be hard lines, like we’re not going to accept any engagement framework from funders who got their money from oil and gas extraction,” Kim shared. In reciprocating the funders’ openness, however, The Aunties Council met the engagement frameworks with generosity and vulnerability of their own. “We have money stories from across the economy, and I would say that they’re all met with the same generosity of spirit of ‘we’re so grateful to receive this, that you’re stepping into this relationship this way, and that you have a willingness to show up and work and be better.”
Right Relationship
RRC invites a reset in the foundation of relationships, transcending traditional roles of grantees and funders. As of the 2023 Reciprocity Report, 8 funders have committed $1.2million for at least 3 years to a pooled fund supporting 6 Indigenous community organizations. The Aunties Council discusses and lovingly decides how dollars are shared. This departure from prescriptive funder strategies fosters collaboration, and remove barriers, competition and a scarcity mindset.
There was no roadmap on how to do this though. Driven by a vision and a commitment to embody the evolving values, the Collaborative faced the challenge of breaking free from scarcity and colonial mindsets. As funding materialized, a pivotal moment arrived when decisions about how to share it needed to be made, raising the question if what the Collaborative had built could withstand an untested paradigm.
Reflecting on this critical juncture, Cúagilákv shares, “That was my fear-based brain thinking because actually what happened was one of the most beautiful and affirming experiences of my life — everybody championing one another over themselves. Everybody saying, ‘yeah, I have needs, but I am so excited about what you’re doing over here, and let’s figure out a way to negotiate all of this so that everybody’s needs are met, and we are uplifting each other.’ I’m here for you. I’m here for me, but I’m here for you too. It’s a gorgeous way to be, and you’d never think it if you only engaged in conventional philanthropy.”
This transformation extends to funders as well, who, having already embraced the Engagement Framework, continue to redefine the concept of right relationships guided by challenging conversations and exploration with the Collaborative. Kim emphasizes the importance of identifying like-minded individuals and organizations who share the discomfort of the status quo and are committed to the journey. “After 3 years we’ve reached a place now where we have developed kinship across funder partners and Aunties and Indigenous leaders to a place where we continually invite our funder partners to reflect on the question, ‘What is good funder work to do?’”
Acknowledging that the essence of good funder work extends beyond grant allocations, the Collaborative aims to reduce harm in philanthropy and investments. Excited about the prospects, Cúagilákv anticipates the development of “Auntiships,” a fellowship-type program providing coaching, support, and living wages to Indigenous Community leaders during pivotal moments in their work. This initiative offers breathing room and stability, enabling leaders to focus on their initiatives and leverage early support for success. The Collaborative, which embraces reciprocal, regenerative and restorative relationships, eagerly explores new ways to better support Indigenous community organizations, responding to the evolving needs of their partners.
Co-leads Cúagilákv and Kim derive joy from their work: sharing successes, uplifting the brilliance of The Aunties Council, and leading through the restorative power of relationships. The Collaborative freely shares its structure and materials, serving as a resource for those seeking different relationships with vendors. Kim encapsulates their work in the Reciprocity Report, stating, “The Right Relations Collaborative clarifies the power that each of us holds and when we are afforded the clarity of ‘what is ours to do’ we can work easily with abundance together.”
