Nonprofits Are Messy Podcast

Ep 216: Just Fund Me! (with Iara Peng)

by Joan Garry

Iara Peng guest appears on the podcast to discuss redefining philanthropy, what her company Just Fund is doing to equalize and simplify giving, and the one word that moves money.

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“Money moves at the speed of trust.” 

These are the words of my podcast guest, Iara Peng, on this episode. And I couldn’t agree with her more. 

Trust is at the core of effective philanthropy. To build trust, organizations must 1) remove any friction in the donation transaction and 2) clearly show donors how their support affects the mission. Succeed with these two things and you are on the road to having donors who continually support the organization for years to come. 

I had the pleasure of talking with Iara, a powerhouse in the world of social justice and philanthropy. She is the founder of Just Fund, the first common application platform in the U.S. for funders and nonprofits, which has already moved more than $280 million to historically marginalized communities. 

We explored the importance of recognizing barriers that marginalized communities face in accessing resources and the crucial role of trust and transparency in philanthropy.

This conversation will challenge you to rethink how you approach fundraising! 

TUNE IN TO LEARN:

  • The Catalyst for Moving Money. When funders and grassroots organizations have established trust, resources can move swiftly to those most in need. Just Fund’s model fosters this relationship by providing a streamlined process for funders and applicants, helping build an environment of transparency and reliability.
  • Help Communities Through a Common Application. Traditional grant applications are time-consuming and place a heavy burden on small organizations. Just Fund’s platform is “by us, for us,” allowing organizations to submit one profile and apply to multiple funds, saving over 38 years of application time across the sector. This efficiency doesn’t just save time—it shifts focus back to the community work that truly matters.
  • Fund Those Closest to the Problem. Iara believes that to solve systemic issues, we must fund those directly impacted by them. “People closest to the problem are closest to the solutions,” she explains. However, philanthropy often overlooks these groups. Just Fund challenges this, bringing funds to those who are often ignored in traditional grant processes. 
  • The Power of Failure in Building Resilience. Iara’s journey is grounded in the idea of “failing forward.” This mindset has driven her to keep experimenting, adapting, and building infrastructure that advances social justice.

KEY QUOTES:

“Money moves at the speed of trust.” (Iara Peng)

“To solve any systemic issue, we have to fund people who are closest to the issues. They know what their communities need, and it’s time we started listening to them and giving them the resources they need.” (Iara Peng)

“The faster we fail, the faster we get to where we need to go. Failing forward is not only about resilience but about continually improving and finding better solutions.” (Iara Peng)

ABOUT IARA PENG:

Iara is a serial entrepreneur dedicated to building critical social justice infrastructure to achieve a more just, equitable, and reflective democracy. She is the Founder and CEO of JustFund, an innovative B2B SaaS company that connects funders directly to organizations to help move resources more quickly while facilitating greater trust, transparency, and accountability in philanthropy. JustFund is the nation’s first Common Application platform, which has moved over $280 million to historically excluded and chronically underfunded communities around the country while saving applicants over 38 years.

She is the Founder and Board Chair of Democratizing Philanthropy Project, a nonprofit that shifts power to frontline organizations by helping them build long-term, reliable small donor revenue. She also founded Prism, a nonprofit media organization that challenges dominant, toxic national narratives by centering people who are closest to the issues and amplifying their ideas, experiences, and solutions. In addition to building critical infrastructure to advance social and racial justice, Iara serves on multiple boards including as Board Chair of the East Bay Community Foundation and on the executive committee of Donors of Color Network. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and three teenagers.

RESOURCES:

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”