Module 5 MONEY, VALUES AND OPPORTUNITY

Oppression is a systemic dynamic that gives advantages, access and opportunity to select social groups based on their identity and disenfranchises others of the same advantages and opportunities solely based on their membership in a certain social group.

The different life experiences of people can be highlighted along several dividing lines (race, gender, ability status, religion, etc.). Socioeconomic status, or class, is a social identity we’ll explore in this module to unpack how the socioeconomic status of the family one is born into directly affects their life chances. We’ll go further and explore how philanthropy intersects with these divisions among class, both in terms of individual experiences as well as the influence these divisions have on entire communities.

• Participants will understand how foundations and nonprofit partners work together and how grantmaking is implemented.
• Participants will explore how socioeconomic status affects one’s life chances, and how our society’s system of stratification plays out in the United States.
• Participants will understand the connection between philanthropy and social injustice in our society.
• Participants will reflect on how priorities and values are shaped by socioeconomic issues and privilege.

• Read excerpts from “Grantmaking with a Racial Equity Lens” GrantCraft. For a more in-depth list of resources related to racial equity and philanthropy, see page 19.
• Watch this excerpt from the PBS Documentary “A Class Divided”: “A Daring Lesson” and “Day 2”
• Read “Why Is It So Hard to Talk To White People About Race?”
• Read “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria” by Beverly Tatum. (pages 52-74; “Identity Development in Adolescents”)

• This module is designed to take participants on a journey of critical analysis of how the socioeconomic status or income level of a community affects its access to resources and philanthropic opportunities. There are then a series of activities and resources designed to spark a deeper exploration of how socioeconomic status affects different groups in society, and asks participants to engage in self-reflection about their personal experiences with socioeconomic status.
• While this material could be covered in one 90-minute session with participants, we recommend spending two to three sessions to get through all of the material presented in this module.