Podcast Summary

Podcast: We Are For Good Podcast – The Podcast for Nonprofits
Episode: 669. How to Build Trust With Funders (and Know When to Walk Away)
Guest: Gloria Dixon, Director of Philanthropy at BECU and Executive Director of the BECU Foundation
Hosts: Jon McCoy (B), Becky Endicott (C)
Air Date: December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deeply into what authentic, trust-based philanthropy looks like, both for funders and nonprofits. Gloria Dixon shares behind-the-scenes insights from her role at BECU—a member-owned credit union—and illuminates why not all funding is created equal, the necessity of honest, reciprocal relationships, and when it’s wise for nonprofits to say “no” to a funder. The conversation is both practical and uplifting, charting a course for transparent, values-driven partnerships and encouraging organizations to walk in their truth for greater impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Origin Story & Philanthropic Lens

• Diversity Shaping Perspective:
  • Gloria grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in a deliberately diverse community chosen by her mother (01:45).
  • Attending predominantly white schools shaped her to be “more thoughtful when I think about other communities and other cultures” (02:26).
  • Gloria’s challenging upbringing became the foundation for her approach to philanthropy: “While unique…it’s made me a better philanthropist today” (03:19).

2. Where Funders and Nonprofits Disconnect

• Business vs. Community Case:
  • Many corporate funders require nonprofits to align with business objectives, while BECU’s “business case is the people, the business case is our members, the business case is the community” (04:55).
  • Quote: “A lot of times when nonprofits are coming into asking money from corporations…does it align with our business? Whereas I work in [a place] where does it align with our members and our community needs” – Gloria (05:08).

3. Adapting Funding To Community Realities

• Integrated Approach:
  • Gloria described how BECU moved from siloed philanthropy to cross-team, system-wide efforts, e.g., collaborating with the mortgage and product teams on real-world community projects (06:29).
  • Partnerships become natural when “we’re not siloed…all going in the same direction, focused on supporting our members and our community” (07:36).

4. The Structural Necessity of Multi-Year Funding

• Why Multi-Year Matters:
  • Gloria detailed BECU’s seven-year, $1.1 million support of Seattle Promise, demonstrating the power and outcomes of long-term commitments (09:55).
  • Quote: “The work isn’t one year or two years…to see generations of students or individuals and families continue to be successful and to grow” – Gloria (11:13).

5. Trust-Based Relationships vs. Transactional Giving

• Listening and Co-Creating:
  • “When you come in with this trust-based mentality and you’re working and co-creating with community rather [than] for community, you get these nuances into what’s actually needed and then the relationship is not transactional” – Becky (11:39).
  • Problems such as food insecurity and housing are addressed holistically when funders build these deeper relationships.

6. Friction Points: Reporting Overload

• Reporting as a Barrier:
  • Overly bureaucratic reports can become a “daunting” demand on nonprofits, especially when grants are a small part of a project’s funding (12:59).
  • Gloria urges funders to “figure out another way” such as storytelling, photos, and more relational forms of sharing impact (14:14).
  • Quote: “Sometimes you need to figure out another way…storytelling, pictures, and videos…I think letting them be in a space with you and tell their story is a great way for you to really build a relationship and not make it so hard” – Gloria (14:40).

7. Modeling Trust-Based Practices at BECU

• Collaboration Over Competition:

  • BECU’s People Helping People Awards puts nonprofits in the same room, spurring them to collaborate instead of compete (16:29).
  • “The nonprofits work together…they just really wanted to see good out of the work that they were doing. And so they built partnerships together and we funded a number of those” – Gloria (17:50).

• Empowering Employees to Connect:

  • BECU encourages “Community Time Off” (CTO), and employees are often community bridge-builders, bringing new organizations to the funding table (18:40-19:54).
  • “It’s a way of life at BECU that everyone’s just trying to do the best good. So it’s so easy to do this work” – Gloria (19:31).

8. Navigating Capacity and Transparency in Relationships

• When Not to Take Money:
  • Sometimes the right decision is to say no: “Not all money is good money. Sometimes you might partner with a funder that’s just not the right funder for you. They could do more harm to your organization” (20:53, repeated from [00:01]).
  • Gloria emphasizes authenticity: “Be honest, be real…bring yourself to the table at all times” (22:23).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Importance of Authenticity:

  • “I still would advocate for [honesty]. And I'll say this. I have a…organization that I work with, and they make it very clear that they don’t take anybody’s money…It’s really important that nonprofits are clear about what they need…and how they can report in order to make sure it’s a relationship that is valuable.” – Gloria Dixon (21:02 – 21:40)

• Humanity at the Heart of Philanthropy:

  • “We were a benefit of a number of programs that I now work to support through my funding. So it’s a full circle moment for me doing this kind of work.” – Gloria (24:06)
  • “[A nurse] continued to come [after my sister’s services were cut]. She wasn’t getting paid…She taught my mom how to care for my sister. So…when people say it’s life or death, I’m like, you’re right…it’s absolutely life or death sometimes.” – Gloria (24:28–25:05)

• Mantras for the Sector:

  • “Never take a day for granted. Every single day that we get to do this work, to be a part of this community, is so valuable.” – Gloria (26:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Gloria’s formative years and motivation: 01:34 – 03:31
• Disconnections between funders & nonprofits: 04:20 – 05:53
• Integrated, cross-team funding at BECU: 06:29 – 08:21
• Multi-year funding and its impact: 09:40 – 11:25
• Challenges with reporting & alternative approaches: 12:59 – 15:00
• Trust-based grantmaking & collaboration: 16:29 – 19:54
• When to walk away from funding: 20:51 – 22:34
• Personal story of philanthropy & the power of quiet generosity: 23:14 – 25:20
• Mantra: Never take a day for granted: 26:34

Actionable Insights & Takeaways

• Funders and nonprofits must engage as collaborators, not transactional partners, with an openness to mutual learning and adaptation.
• Reporting should be right-sized, creative, and not burdensome; storytelling is a powerful alternative.
• Nonprofits should feel empowered to say “no” to misaligned funders to preserve organizational integrity and impact.
• Building a culture of generosity within organizations (through practices like Community Time Off) strengthens impact and trust.
• Authentic, lived experience and honest dialogue are the backbone of trust-based philanthropy.

For Further Connection

• Gloria Dixon and her team are open to connecting with anyone interested in conversation or partnership. Find them on LinkedIn or BECU’s community outreach pages. “We willingly meet with folks, even if we’re not going to fund them. We still meet because everyone deserves an opportunity to tell their story.” (27:54)