Smart Risks explores how small grants can make lasting impact and ensure power is in the hands of marginalized people and communities.
What is a “smart risk”?
A “smart risk” is investing relatively small amounts of money in effective, visionary grassroots leaders, organizations, and movements. Grantmakers who take “smart risks” find effective grassroots initiatives, build upon existing human and social capital and expertise, and make grants that are responsive to community leaders’ needs.
Why are “smart risks” important?
A “smart risks” approach to grantmaking builds on the dynamism, self-determination, innovation, and voluntary resources that community groups are able to generate.
It is an alternative to the funder-controlled, large-scale, international funding of the past. A “smart risks” approach is based on the fact that people on the ground have the most important knowledge, ideas, and human resources to address the immense and complex challenges associated with global poverty and injustice.
Who is this book for?
This book is for anyone who cares about global poverty and injustice. We recommend this book specifically for people who are looking to:
- Become more thoughtful and intentional in their international giving and philanthropy, or in global work of any sort, such as aid, social enterprise, corporate responsibility or impact investing
- Foster deeper connections with people and organizations doing work on the ground in the Global South
- Build wider support for direct support to grassroots organizations and movements as catalysts of social change
Who are the authors?
The book’s 22 authors represent a range of players within the global development sector who are already taking “smart risks”. They range from grantors and funders, to small grants advocates in larger organizations, program managers, and community leaders in their own right – all united by why they do what they do.
Together as grantmakers, they have:
- made approximately 12,000 grants
- totaling almost $130 million
- to over 5,000 grassroots organizations from over 130 countries
- over the past 30+ years.
Learn more about the authors here.
Who is the person featured on the book cover?
The book cover features Momotaz Begum, who lives in Mahipur, Bijor Bandh in the Rangpur District of northwest Bangladesh. Unusually for Bangladesh, she has never married. She says, “I have a passion for goat rearing, I love taking them around and to the fields. Having them around me makes me happy.” She was photographed by Mehrab ul-Goni from Practical Action Bangladesh.