Why Join The Funder Node?
Last week, we were excited to announce the launch of the Illuminate Funder Node — a 6-part series to explore and deepen practice on supporting systems change.
In network discussions about this offering, we heard some compelling reasons for WHY someone might sign up for a peer learning series to talk about funding systems change. Here are a few summaries of what we heard:
“The reality is that all of the issues we support at the foundation are at the confluence of multiple systems failures that have played out over generations. We need to build analytical chops at understanding these challenges and the way they are interconnected.”
“Most people don’t have opportunities to learn or practice how to collaborate across complex systems. Funders need a place to think about how to be good partners with grantees and how to practice collaboration with each other.”
“I want to explore how to break out of the issue siloes that define philanthropy, to form an entangled analysis of issues that keeps equity front and center. And I want to create mechanisms for accountability to these ideas within the foundation.”
Facilitated along principles of emergent design, the Funder Node is a container into which participants can surface inquiries, challenges, and burning questions, and then dig deeper with their peers.
We hope you’ll join if you are grappling with how to support systems change efforts effectively and equitably and see a peer learning community as a means of supporting your efforts within your institution, with grantees, and in the broader field of philanthropy.
