From Family Reckoning to Reparative Philanthropy – A Conversation with Hilary Giovale
Description
What happens when a piece of family history rewrites everything you thought you knew about yourself—and your responsibility to others? In this powerful episode of Money to Give, host Rick Peck speaks with Hilary Giovale, a philanthropist and author of Becoming a Good Relative: Calling White Settlers toward Truth, Healing, and Repair , whose journey began with an unexpected discovery in her family’s genealogy.
That discovery—a legacy built on stolen Indigenous land and the labor of enslaved people—sparked years of spiritual reckoning, historical research, and deep relationship-building with affected communities. Hilary shares how confronting her ancestors’ role in American capitalism led her to embrace “reparative philanthropy,” a practice rooted in humility, trust, and a commitment to address the ongoing harms of the past.
Together, Rick and Hilary explore:
The connection between slavery, land dispossession, and the foundations of American wealth.
The limitations of traditional, institutional philanthropy—and why trust-based approaches matter.
The concept of “interpersonal philanthropy” and the many ways people can give beyond money.
How to start a personal reparations plan, with or without financial wealth.
Spiritual practices that ground reparative giving in relationship, reciprocity, and healing.
This episode challenges listeners to think differently about wealth, generosity, and our shared history—and to consider what meaningful repair might look like in their own lives.
Resources Mentioned in Episode:
Guide to Making a Personal Reparations Plan
The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism, by Edward E. Baptist
Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance, by Edgar Villanueva
100% of book proceeds go to Jubilee Justice and Decolonizing Wealth Project
United States
