Possibility Labs’ mission is to support the economic approaches that help marginalized communities build viable livelihoods with dignity. We are compelled to address the stark reality that Palestinians face today: the economic limitations from the blockades coupled with the unconscionable levels of violence and denial of basic human rights amidst a humanitarian disaster undermine the very foundations of self-determination.

The start-up life…is a whirlwind of excitement, challenges, and growth. As we reached our three-year anniversary at Possibility Labs, we found ourselves at a pivotal moment, and we wanted to share our story with all of you.

What is community ownership, and how can investing in it help bolster local communities and create a more equitable future?

Every dollar from #GivingTuesday goes a long way for savvy social changemakers on the ground, but the bigger need that centers movements is for donors to shift and expand their giving by investing catalytically too.

Our first exploration was simple and straightforward—to discover the possibilities of this hypothesis:

If bold visionaries are supported by a new ecosystem of agile, creative, and accountable partners with the empathy and expertise to operationalize their vision and mission, then they can catalyze, grow, and sustain power and wealth for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and systematically oppressed communities.

Automating transactional infrastructure (e.g., streamlined financial reports) to improve cumbersome processes was the first step in our co-creation process. And we learned from early conversations, such as with Ain Bailey from New Seneca Village, that partners don’t want a transactional “babysitter” to pull reports—they want strategic partners who can help with out-of-the box thinking.

Change is a collective effort. As we reimagine new, equitable economies as an intermediary, we have learned that the systems and lexicons we navigate across funders and social enterprises are typically silo-ed, and thus unfamiliar.

Since April 2022, we have been deep in conversation peer to peer, between supervisors and direct reports, among managers and senior leadership, and as an organization as whole about how we aim to live into our values as an organization, but also as people.

Our greatest barrier is the scarcity of money. Or so we have been told.

Charitable giving had a record-breaking year in 2020 at $471.44 billion. Yet, in 2021, but for the notable exception of Mackenzie Scott, donations towards initiatives benefiting Black and Brown communities weren’t a priority for the nation’s top 50 donors.

Lem White wants to “blow up” the donor-advised fund model. Also known as DAFs, these are accounts created at a sponsor entity that allow account holders to get the tax benefits of giving away large sums of money all at once, then distribute those dollars later — if and when they feel like it — to tax-exempt organizations doing actual work on the ground in communities. It’s easier than establishing a foundation, which requires setting up a new entity, lots of meetings, paperwork, legal fees and ongoing reporting requirements.