Understanding
Care-Based Philanthropy
At EMA Foundation, we listen to our partners’ needs, trust their expertise, and co-design adaptive support.
Our Values in Action
We build deep relationships with our partners by listening deeply, understanding their mission and needs, and showing up wherever possible. We learn from their experiences and co-design plans to meet their needs, from unrestricted grants to in-kind assistance with operational needs.
Traditional grant applications and reporting requirements place enormous strain on small organizations as they demand valuable time and energy that would otherwise be dedicated to mission-related work. We replace cumbersome processes with conversations and sharing stories on rhizōma.
Our approach goes beyond financial support. At EMA, our intergenerational staff, comprised mostly of full-time students, works alongside our partners. Our team consults with stakeholders, creates engagement networks, manages social media campaigns, and co-designs programming with our partners so they can thrive.
Youth agency is central to EMA’s approach. We recognize that young people have skills and perspectives that are essential to address systemic issues. They understand the media landscape and how to reach and motivate other young people, which is essential to progress. Engaging young people enhances our partners' work through intergenerational dialogue.
The intersection between EMA Foundation (grantmaking) and rhizōma (storytelling) is illustrated by our cross-journey symbol, demonstrating that both entities work together on our collective journey of making a more equitable world.
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rhizōma is a dynamic storytelling and learning platform for sharing stories and resources related to the work of our funding partners. It is designed to advance our work towards equity and build community by amplifying the voices of global storytellers through blogs, articles, films, panels, events, and interactive courses.
In our overwhelming media landscape, it is often hard to find the stories that matter. rhizōma is a place for readers to interact with global voices, connect with nonprofits on the frontlines of pressing issues, and engage with a community of learners. As a dynamic resource hub, rhizōma aims to empower and prepare people to build pathways towards equity.
rhizōma is more than a place to find information. It is a dynamic hub for idea generation and new collaborations. rhizōma opens new connection channels for our partners through event hosting and campaign opportunities, bringing more people into the work.
The stories we share are the kind that motivate people to learn more and engage their own communities. rhizōma provides resources, facilitates collaboration, and hosts accessible spaces for conversation. Through rhizōma, EMA is working to mobilize people and channel resources to create a tide that lifts all boats in the movement towards a more equitable world.
Layers of Impact
We believe that empathy motivates actions that cultivate a culture of belonging, and each layer contributes to the growth of a more equitable future for all. EMA financial support doesn't just fund one program—it creates ripple effects across our entire ecosystem. Every dollar supports these interconnected layers of impact that benefit our partners, our young staff, and everyone who uses the resources we build.
The Pillars of Our Model
EMA embraces care-based philanthropy by recognizing that the most important resources are the people and organizations driving social change, requiring support that goes far beyond traditional funding to nurture their wellbeing and amplify their impact.
EMA's Impact Network brings together values-aligned organizations working across social issues to tackle complex challenges that no single entity can address alone. By cultivating deep collaboration and trusted relationships, we amplify collective power and impact while building systems of belonging across humanity.
With half of our staff under the age of 25, EMA positions youth leadership as essential to organizational success, recognizing young people as co-architects of systemic change informed by their lived experiences and through deep collaborations with our partners.
EMA leverages authentic storytelling as a catalyst for social transformation, creating our rhizōma platform where underrepresented voices can inspire empathy and drive collective action toward equity.
EMA is transforming education by building bridges between learning and real-world purpose, creating meaningful connections that extend far beyond traditional classroom walls.
Trust
Trust our partners as experts in their work and follow their lead to best meet their needs
Engage
Engage our intergenerational staff in our partners’ work and continuously develop our team’s skill sets
Amplify
Amplify voices from our partners and the people they serve and share their stories through our rhizōma platform
Activate
Activate our community with opportunities to turn learnings into action towards equity
Traditional philanthropy models uphold power imbalances and limit potential by prioritizing funder-driven decision making. Grants typically require time-consuming application and reporting processes, and cannot be used to fund operational expenses like salaries or rent. EMA Foundation operates on a trust-based philanthropy model. We build relationships with potential partners to develop a thorough understanding of their needs. Our partners are the experts in their fields, so we build support on their terms via mutual design.
Our Process Includes
Unrestricted
multi-year funding
Unrestricted multi-year funding for our partners to allocate resources as they see fit
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Operational
support
Operational support from our staff as requested–from designing social media campaigns to community strategizing and more
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Coaching &
Consulting
Subsidized coaching and consulting support for leaders and staff
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rhizōma resource hub
Access to our rhizōma resource hub to share stories, present courses, host seminars, and more
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Active
networking
Active networking to connect partners with resources, collaborators, and new funding opportunities
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Speaking
opportunities
Speaking opportunities to increase mission visibility
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Partnerships in Practice
EMA Foundation provides $25,000 of annual financial support to In-Sight Collaborative.
This year's funds are supporting the expansion of In-Sight's mentorship program and facilitating the translation of materials into multiple languages.
Moving forward, EMA and In-Sight will collaborate to expand course offerings in support of humanitarian efforts.
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EMA Foundation facilitates the BYkids Community of Learners, a cohort of ten educators who spent the 2023-24 school year exploring how to integrate BYkids films into their curricula.
That cohort will become instructors in professional development workshops for new educators this summer, with the goal of adding at least 100 new teachers to the Community. EMA will also partner with BYkids to create detailed curriculum guides and integration pathways so teachers can incorporate films with ease.
To support SafePlace International on its path to sustainable growth, EMA Foundation launched the SafePlace NEXT initiative, fulfilling a $100,000 challenge grant in 2023.
EMA continues to provide annual financial support, underwrites coaching for the SPI leadership team, and provide ongoing capacity support for operations as needed.
EMA Foundation has supported Children of the Forest's medical program for more than a decade.
EMA also provides staffing support for CoF USA, including the development of a new website, and managing social media campaigns, and working with filmmaker Henry Kinder to create a suite of short films to highlight CoF's mission and programs.
EMA Foundation collaborates closely with HTL Coalition, providing support through coaching and unrestricted funding as they embark on a growth campaign. Recently, HTL has undergone a significant transition, incorporating as a newly-formed nonprofit organization.
Formerly known as the Juneau Violence Prevention Coalition under AWARE Inc., HTL is now dedicated to regional healing initiatives and systemic change work. EMA Foundation is proud to support HTL on this transformative journey towards greater impact and sustainability.
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Since 2022, EMA Foundation has provided Lighthouse Relief with unrestricted funding of $25K annually. This support has supported Lighthouse Relief in expanding distribution efforts, enhancing information support services, and providing safe housing for vulnerable individuals.
Additionally, EMA Foundation has provided coaching support for Lighthouse Relief's administrative staff, further strengthening their organizational capacity and effectiveness in serving refugees and asylum seekers in Greece.
