Movement Money: Elspeth Gilmore and the Trust Web

In this first ever episode of our new podcast Movement Money, Allison Budschalow and Mike talk to their dear friend Elspeth Gilmore. 

• How do Michael and Allison both know Elspeth Gilmore, an heir to the Publishers Clearinghouse fortune and former Executive Director of Resource Generation?
• How and why did Elspeth decide to give away seven million dollars?
• What is the Trust Web? And is it just a fancy giving circle?!
• And— record scratch— why the f#*$ would Elspeth give away millions of dollars in the first place? Especially when she didn’t know where it would go?!

Listen to find out answers to these questions and more (including which all-star movement leaders are involved).

In this episode, we hear her money story and the story of the Trust Web, a crew of 12 social justice movement organizers, activists and artists who have redistributed $7 million of Elspeth’s inheritance through no-strings-attached gifts. Each member of the Trust Web was given money for themselves and money to give away, and have used their trusting relational web to do just that.

This episode is about more than giving away money: it’s about how Elspeth and this cross-class, multiracial crew are transforming their relationship to money, power and themselves in the process.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, please rate and review it on Apple podcasts, and share it with others. We’re relying on our community, like you, to help us spread the word.

To find out more about Trust Web email trustwebcommunity@gmail.com.

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Organize the Rich Radio is produced in partnership with Rowhome Productions.