We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits 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/669
//
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.com