Trust in Practice: Building Equitable Partnerships Through Trust-Based Philanthropy

In Trust in Practice, Omni's Center for Social Investment lays out the critical ingredients for building equitable partnerships between funders and communities. Grounded in social science and on-the-ground experience, the guide emphasizes that trust grows when community members are treated as co-creators, not passive recipients. Transparency, shared power, cultural competence, and recognition of lived experience are essential to cultivating relationships that lead to meaningful, community-driven outcomes.

The publication also offers tactical guidance for putting these values into action through rotating leadership, inclusive decision-making structures, and consistent touchpoints that reinforce stability and respect. It urges funders and partners to assess not only what gets done, but how it gets done and with whom. Ultimately, it expands the definition of success in philanthropy to include the strength, equity, and durability of the relationships that fuel lasting change.