Putting Community Out Front: A Philanthropic Playbook for Neighborhood Leaders

 

"Putting Community Out Front: An Interview with John Brothers" (Insights for Change, March 24, 2025), contains key takeaways tailored for neighborhood leaders.

John Brothers, who stepped down in February 2025 from his nearly ten‑year role leading T. Rowe Price’s philanthropic arms, offers a powerful, analogy-rich vision of how philanthropy can—and should—support communities from behind the scenes. His insights provide an essential guide for neighborhood leaders aiming to foster authentic, community-led progress.

1. Philanthropy as Block-and-Tackle Support

Brothers likens philanthropy to his experience as a college football center: “not the quarterback” but the one who blocks and tackles so others can shine. He insists, “If I’m successful, you’ll never see me—you’ll see them.” Philanthropy’s purpose, he explains, is to empower communities—not to lead them.

For neighborhood leaders, this metaphor underscores the importance of visibility—not for funders or outsiders, but for local residents, grassroots organizations, and authentic voices driving change.

2. Community-Led Definitions of Impact

Brothers critiques philanthropy’s fixation on jargon like “impact” and “evaluation,” noting these terms are often owned by funders and evaluators. Instead, he insists that communities must own these words and definitions themselves.

Neighborhood leaders should embrace this shift: define success, outcomes, and evaluation metrics with your community. Let community members articulate what matters most, and honor those definitions in your work.

3. The Central Role of Listening

Underlying Brothers’s philosophy is a deep commitment to listening. He asserts that well‑intentioned nonprofit and philanthropic work must be “rooted in community, always led by community voices toward their own self‑determination."

Neighborhood leaders must prioritize listening—not just consultation, but sustained, respectful, and reflexive listening that centers community lived experience.

4. Self-Reflection Among Philanthropists

Brothers calls for philanthropy to look inward and question its own power: “the wellness of the relationship between philanthropy and community … starts by philanthropy looking inward. And part of that is being good listeners."

Neighborhood leaders can hold funders accountable to this standard, advocating for partners who recognize power imbalances and commit to listening and learning.

What This Means for Neighborhood Leaders

  • Choose partners that support—you don’t seek the spotlight. Look for funders who aim to “block and tackle,” not lead or own the narrative.

  • Co-create success metrics. Insist that impact and evaluation language come from and reflect your community’s priorities.

  • Embed listening into every project. Make community voices the foundation of planning, evaluation, and visioning.

  • Demand reflective, humble philanthropy. Work with partners who interrogate their influence and share power rather than perpetuate inequities.

In sum, John Brothers’s interview is a heartfelt reminder that transformative change in neighborhoods comes from those who are rooted in the lived realities of their communities—and that the most effective philanthropy is the kind that empowers those voices rather than speaking for them. For neighborhood leaders, these lessons are both a challenge and a call to leadership: demand visibility for your community, define your own success, listen deeply within, and hold partners accountable to support self-determination—not steer it.

Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.com or burtond@missouri.edu. You can also visit his website at https://engagedneighbor.com.

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