By Ana Letícia Silva and Paulo Motoryn
Report series: The challenges of communicating community and social justice philanthropy
This is a series of reports with four texts derived from a press conference held with communicators from organizations in the Philanthropy Network for Social Justice, identifying the main challenges experienced in communicating the community philanthropy it's from social justice from the practice of @ cominicador@es.
Interviewees were: Larissa Amorim (Casa Fluminense); Silvia Dias and Fernanda Lopes (Baobá Fund); Mônica Nóbrega (Brazil Human Rights Fund); Renata Saavedra (Fundo Elas); Harley Nascimento (Positive Fund); Attilio Zonin (Casa Fund); Ivanderson Pinheiro (Instituto Baixada); Andreia Coutinho (Instituto Clima e Sociedade); Stefani Ceolla (ICOM); Méle Dornelas (ISPN); Simone Amorim (Tabôa); Andrea Blum (Redes da Maré).
Report 2:
Communicate to mobilize
Communicators from organizations that make up the Philanthropy Network for Social Justice warn about the importance of communication to inform, build bridges and… mobilize resources!
But what does it mean?
The “information society” is a concept that emerged in the 20th century. The term describes a historical moment in which communication technologies were already showing their ability to transform collective life. The main intellectuals of the “information society” and the global optimism due to the advent of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies), however, were not able to predict what would happen in 2020.
In March, in the same statement in which the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the new coronavirus “pandemic”, it warned of the risk of “infodemic” – which would be a pandemic of misinformation. Since then, the world has reached the sad milestone of 1 million deaths and fake news is still spreading indiscriminately on social media. The scenario raised an alert among the communicators of the organizations that make up the Philanthropy Network for Social Justice.
“Our investments in communication intensified much more now in 2020 when we found ourselves facing the Covid-19 pandemic. We created a strategic campaign focused on the pandemic, positive communication, and this led to the Fund producing communication tools, radio spots, podcasts, social media posts, weekly lives. He began to play a leading role in carrying out communication actions”, count the Positive Background.
In the statements, it is possible to see that the organizations see the main challenges in the current context, the “infodemic” and intense polarization. But they identify Philanthropy Network for Social Justice and in collaborative communication this opportunity:
“We found it difficult to mobilize and interest on the part of the community itself, which we work on constantly through campaigns that help to broaden views on the importance of being connected in networks and thus expand discussions about philanthropy and donations”, states the Baixada Institute.
“We are at the moment to rethink communication around the Casa Fluminense Fund. We are going to be closer to the Philanthropy Network for Social Justice and to be able to think together, but we are going to go through a moment of rethinking the positioning of the Casa Fluminense Fund”, says to Casa Fluminense.
The communication scenario in the context of the pandemic helps us reflect: what communication do we want? In the interviews, the communicators spoke about the communication they dream of for the field and about the difficulties of building a dialogue that mobilizes resources – resources of all types, partners, networks, volunteers and donations.
“Our work goes beyond fundraising, which allows us to strengthen the actors engaged in this cause: it includes identifying the points where we must act, that is, the key issues to combat structural racism”, highlights the Baobab Fund.
Communicate to whom?
The target audience is a concern. After all, according to the testimonies, mobilizing resources is not about raising financing. It is, above all, moving assets from society, organizations and people towards social justice. Therefore, the communicators made a point of highlighting the need to build bridges between different groups.
“A challenge is to communicate without seeming welfare-oriented, but in a way that makes society aware of the fact that our actions are structural and brings their attention to the importance of these people. Furthermore, in a highly connected environment, in which people are in contact with different topics at the same time, the challenge remains of how to communicate in an original way, which raises awareness and at the same time explains/is clear with the message. In other words, communicating while explaining basic concepts, in an original way for a society that often prioritizes other issues than socio-environmental issues”, tell to ISPN.
O Climate and Society Institute highlighted the challenge of translating the depth of the theme he works on. According to the organization's communicators, it is necessary to “challenge institutional cultures” to overcome difficulties.
“Talking about the climate, about philanthropy, is talking about race, gender and class inequalities. And, more than just talking, communicators need to be intentional in developing their strategic plans and challenge their institutional cultures for inclusion and equity”, states the iCS.
The issue of gender, without a doubt, is central. O Elas Background, aimed at combating inequalities and violence against women, is the only Brazilian social investment fund focused exclusively on promoting women's protagonism. According to the fund's communicators, the focus on social change is what moves the organization. Therefore, it is a priority.
“Elas’ work reveals the meaning of philanthropy for social justice for society as it successfully practices the donation of resources (financial or otherwise) based on trust and aiming to transform society. We are fully aware that the culture of donations in Brazil must be expanded and directed towards social change, and this is reflected in Elas’ actions”, states the Elas Background.
The mobilization of resources is a constitutive and essential part of social justice philanthropy and considered, in addition to the double action of raising resources to donate, a political act. Therefore, the challenge of communication that enables and strengthens this mobilization of resources has a political dimension.
