Giving Compass' Take:

• BRIGHT Magazine interviews Edgar Villanueva, Native American funder and author of the new book, Decolonizing Wealth, who argues that we must examine the roots of exploitation within philanthropy's past to build a better future.

• It starts with recognizing the imbalance of power and focusing grantmaking efforts at creating racial equity. This isn't a guilt trip — it's about lifting up voices that were traditionally marginalized.

• Here's more on how to make your equity and diversity goals a reality.

There is a lot of spirited debate these days about philanthropy’s failures and opportunities. Author and muckraker Anand Giridharadas is walking off sets, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ announcement about his new philanthropic efforts were met with a heap of criticism about his labor practices (from both inside and outside the company), and the Charity Defense Council continues trying to convince funders that “inadequate resources are not the path to global transformation.” For a sector that has historically comported itself with a quiet, polite, one might even say avoidant, decorum, it seems the white gloves are finally coming off.

No one, I would argue, is encouraging philanthropy’s newfound realness more passionately or constructively than Edgar Villanueva. He is an author, social justice philanthropy expert, and a Native American funder. I was excited to catch up with him on his recent book tour to ask him more about his bold new book, Decolonizing Wealth, a provocative exploration of the dysfunctional colonial dynamics at play in the world of high finance and philanthropy. Villanueva peels back the layers of the often cloistered world philanthropy and tackles the endemic old boy networks and savior complexes that underpin much of international philanthropy.

"I believe that people of color, with the very way that we move through the world and our worldview, are just so completely misaligned with philanthropy’s culture that is very difficult for us to be successful," says Villanueva. "When I realized that the pain I experienced was shared by many and that local communities were being harmed, I knew I had to speak up  —  and in doing so, begin my own journey of healing."

Read the full article about Edgar Villanueva and philanthropy's colonial roots by Courtney Martin at BRIGHT Magazine.