669. How to Build Trust With Funders (and Know When to Walk Away) - Gloria Dixon

Trust isn’t built in boardrooms, it’s built in community.  In this episode, Gloria Dixon (Director of Philanthropy + Executive Director, BECU Foundation) joins us for a real talk on what it takes to share power and reimagine funding through a trust-based lens. From her journey in Milwaukee to leading community-centered giving in the Pacific Northwest, Gloria opens up about what’s shifting in philanthropy and what still needs to.  Together, they dig into why multi-year, unrestricted support matters, how authentic relationships drive impact, and what it means to show up with empathy (not just reports and metrics). It’s hopeful, heart-forward, and packed with practical wisdom for anyone navigating the changing landscape of nonprofit funding.Episode Highlights: Sector Challenges and Funding Changes (00:51)Gloria's Background and Upbringing (03:18)Disconnects Between Funders and Nonprofits (05:57)BECU’s Community-Focused Funding Approach (08:09)Multi-Year Funding Importance (10:32)Funding Friction and Reporting Challenges (14:17) Trust-Based Partnership Practices (17:58)Employee Engagement and Community Impact (20:53) Advice for Nonprofits: Building Trust (23:11) Gloria’s Personal Story of Philanthropy (25:38)Gloria’s One Good Thing (29:07) Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/669Join us at The Spread!Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛We Are For Good is joining forces with GB to host in-person hackathon meetups on Friday, Oct. 2, in New York, Seattle, LA, Denver, and Indianapolis, so you can build alongside other nonprofits in the community.Learn more and save your free spot today. //Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.comSay hi 👋LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter