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Design Justice Principles in Philanthropy

The Technology in the Public Interest program worked with the Design Justice Network  Steering Committee, Wesley Taylor and Sasha Costanza-Chock to host an intensive design justice workshop for MacArthur Foundation staff on April 14th, 2021. During the workshop, participants were introduced to the theory and practice of design justice and explored how design justice methods can be applied to grantmaking in order to challenge, rather than reproduce, structural inequalities in philanthropy. Key elements included a presentation about the theory and practice of design justice; a hands-on exercise to help participants think through how design justice principles might apply to their work; and a facilitated discussion focused on design justice in grantmaking, especially in the development and implementation of grantmaking strategies. This was the first time the Design Justice Network developed a workshop for philanthropy, making it an especially unique opportunity.