Funding Advocacy for Racial Equity in a Hostile Climate – with Dr. Giridhar Mallya, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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In this installment of our ongoing Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy Series, you’ll get practical, real-world examples of how funders and nonprofit leaders can engage in policy advocacy to defend values such as racial equity and democracy, when those values are under direct political attack.
Host Rusty Stahl is joined by Giridhar Mallya, Senior Policy Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), to unpack how one major national foundation is supporting nonprofits through legal advocacy, narrative change, and bold leadership in a hostile climate. Drawing on his background in public health and government, Dr. Mallya explains why race-conscious strategies improve outcomes for everyone—and why pulling back from equity work creates greater risk for nonprofits than continuing it.
According to Inside Philanthropy, RWJF was the first among the large national foundations to speak out in response to the Trump Administration’s anti-racial justice efforts. Listeners will learn how RWJF has redefined what “risk” is in today’s environment; why focusing on grantee safety is more productive than focusing on foundation fears; and what it looks like for philanthropic institutions to stay public, values-aligned, and effective when silence feels safer.
Guest bio:
Giridhar Mallya, is an MD, and Masters of Science Health Policy. He is a public health physician whose career spans government, philanthropy, and academia. His work leverages the power of public policy and community health interventions to shape the political, social, and economic determinants of health.
He currently serves as Senior Policy Officer for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation where he leads a national initiative to defend racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in health and other sectors.
Dr. Mallya was previously Director of Policy and Planning for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. He is a board-certified family physician and adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Organizations, People & Resources Mentioned:
Recommended Resources from our Guest:
How Equity Strategies Can Make Healthcare Better for Everyone
Promoting Policy Tools that Advance Health and Racial Equity
People:
Giridhar Mallya – Senior Policy Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Edgar Villanueva – Author and philanthropy leader; RWJF board member
Rich Besser – President & CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Avanel Joseph – Vice President for Policy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Rev Jesse Jackson (Rest in Peace) – Civil rights leader and past presidential candidate
Organizations & Institutions:
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