Does feel like this is a step in the right direction. The wealthy have way too much power, and philanthropy is a part of that. Making nonprofits beholden to the rich is sinister.
This pilot offered a glimpse into the model’s potential while operating under many constraints. Within a very tight timeline of approximately six weeks, the FLAC Design Team facilitated channeling unrestricted funds — considered ‘gifts’ or ‘reparations’ — to five diverse groups working at the intersections of gender, environment, and climate justice. These funds, ranging between $20,000 and $30,000 USD, were given with no reporting requirements and allocated based on identified needs and capacities and work already being done in the world.
This just sounds like a charity with extra steps. (Nothing necessarily wrong with that.)
The big difference here is the unrestricted nature and lack of reporting requirements - traditional charity usually comes with tons of strings attached and forces groups to jump through hoops to “prove” they deserve continued support.
So… charity with fewer steps?
Charity with fewer mechanisms of control from the donator