In a 2017 survey of 111 private foundations, 85% of the total number of board members were white, and 40% of foundation boards were 100% white. Another survey showed that only 10% of foundation funding goes specifically to people of color.

Philanthropy has evolved to mirror colonial structures, ultimately doing more harm than good.In this book Edgar Villanueva recounts his journey past the field's altruistic façade and into its shadows: white supremacy, savior complexes, and internalized oppression. The second edition has two new chapters that expand this analysis.. Medicine Beyond Money relates inspiring examples of people doing the work of decolonization in all kinds of workplaces and sectors. Story as Medicine explains how sharing our stories is a vital part of that process.

Drawing on Native traditions, Villanueva explains how we can decolonize the institutions and processes around money, using the Seven Steps to Healing: Grieve, Apologize, Listen, Relate, Represent, Invest, and Repair. He writes, "Everyone has a role in the process of healing. All our suffering is mutual. All our healing is mutual. All our thriving is mutual."