Inside Philanthropy’s Post

The principles of the #VillageMovement are simple: Instead of leaving their homes for senior housing or assisted living, a group of residents in a given community, typically age 50 and older, form a non-profit membership organization to provide access to services that support their goal of remaining at home as long as possible. VIA Next Avenue: https://lnkd.in/dBHdngsy #aging #agingwell #aginginplace

This article is a great summary of the lessons learned from an evaluation of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ Shifting Systems Initiative. Here are a few takeaways. Many funders and nonprofits are talking the talk of systems change, but there is not consensus on what this means and how it’s done: “the sheer number of funders pursuing their individual approaches to this goal has made it difficult to achieve a broad consensus about what systems change actually involves. What is needed is for funders and grantee partners engaged in systems change to coalesce around strategies and behaviors that contribute to transformational change. This will require both sharper definitions internally and in public discourse, and more accountability within the sector itself for funders that claim they are pursuing a systems change agenda.” Many funders are still hesitant to provide long-term and operating support, both of which are critical for success. Foundations can and should focus on reforming unfair rules and on changing who has the power to make the rules. Philanthropy can support narrative change efforts to help shift attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs that dictate our public policies, social norms, and systems.

NEW on the blog, Shaheer Mustafa of HopeWell Inc discusses the role #philanthropy could play in pushing innovation in sectors like human services, and reflects on CEP's recent report, State of Nonprofits 2023: What Funders Need to Know: https://lnkd.in/eYwZJDqq

"Did you really buy this for me? No one buys me what I ask for, ever." This is what 14-year-old Jacob told his advocate when she delivered his wish. He couldn't believe that the drawing tablet that he had wanted for years was finally in his hands. She told us that he hugged it tightly and kept repeating "thank you" as he walked into the house. Jacob has been in foster care for years. This is the reason One Simple Wish exists. Recently, a donor sent a very long list of questions to One Simple Wish about our work, my age, my background, our organizational structure, and finally, how we measure impact. And while I felt the age question was also a bit unusual, it's this question about impact that continues to perplex me. Because how do you measure joy? When I had the idea to launch One Simple Wish 15 years ago, it was clear that not everyone around me believed in the vision I had for a place where kids and young adults didn't have to justify their need or desire for joy. It was also clear that joy didn't seem to "move the needle" enough for foundations to support us and certainly not for the child welfare community to embrace us. (Our organization is still largely ignored in this space, and while that used to really hurt me, I no longer see it as a negative.) We are here for the kids and young adults who are far too often told that their needs and wants come only after boxes are checked and processes are followed - humans who are shuffled around in a system that is not designed to address individuality in any way. I am glad that we continue to imagine a world in which joy is just as much a need as food, clothing, and shelter - because it is. And every time we receive a note like this one - when we see a child finally feel like someone heard them and someone felt like what they wanted mattered, it is all the proof of impact that we will ever need. PS: There are currently over 1800 wishes waiting to be granted at onesimplewish.org, with thousands more coming in through the holiday season. Please consider granting a wish or making a donation today.

🌟 Embracing Systems Change in Philanthropy: A Necessity for Sustainable Impact 🌟 Heather Grady summarises Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors' Shifting Systems Initiative. This innovative approach is redefining philanthropy, focusing on long-term strategies that tackle the root causes of societal issues. 🛠️ Key Insights for Effective Philanthropy: - Shift Mental Models: Change deep-seated beliefs and attitudes. - Tackle Root Causes: Address conditions that maintain societal issues. - Empower Movements: Support community-led institutions to shift power dynamics. - Collaborative Funding: Encourage pooled resources and unified strategies for greater impact. 💬 Let's Discuss: What are your thoughts on systems change in philanthropy? How can we make a lasting impact together? #philanthropy #systemschange #socialimpact https://lnkd.in/gaY-Q57C

Speaking with the Voices of Thousands of Our Customers on Capitol Hill John and I are meeting with members of Congress this week advocating for the rights of people with Down syndrome and all people with differing abilities. We are backed by the support we receive from thousands of customers at John's Crazy Socks. Our customers love that they get great socks (over 30,000 5-star reviews) and great service (every package gets a thank you note and candy from John). But there is so much more. Our customers know that buying from us supports our Giving Back program that has raised over $750,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics New York and the National Down Syndrome Society. Our customers know that we strive to show what people with differing abilities can do when given the opportunity. More than half our colleagues have a differing ability. We reach out to families, schools, social service agencies and businesses. And we advocate for the rights of people with differing abilities. This week, John and I will speak to Senators and Representatives about raising the SSI Asset Levels, eliminating the subminimum wage, which allows employers to pay people with a disability as little as five cents an hour, and providing more support for people with differing abilities who want to start a business. When they support John’s Crazy Socks, each of our customers becomes an advocate. When John and I speak with members of Congress, we do so not just with our own voices, but the voices of our customers, thousands of people who will not be defeated. Together, we will continue to work until people with differing abilities have equal access to work and services, until people with differing abilities have equal rights with all Americans.  #inclusion #downsyndrome #advocacy #disabilityrights #socialenterprise

If you are a social justice warrior - likely one working in a nonprofit or association - digging deep to find the energy to foster an environment that values "long-game" efforts, this post is for you. Between 2014-2020, I was employed with the Alzheimer's Association®. My title and responsibilities changed three times, but the organization's overall mission never changed. One group of constituents we served was family caregivers. We provided quality education and support in the form of free educational courses, support groups, social engagement activities, online blogs and dashboards, and more. We elevated community awareness of what caregivers face by arranging media interviews, setting up awareness days with local businesses and city/state governments, and executing fundraising events. Finally, we committed, alongside a tireless group of volunteers, to advancing state and federal legislation to better support our caregiving population. We organized groups to push through new legislation and educated elected officials on dementia care needs. That last paragraph - you know, the advocacy one - was tough work. You likely know that it can take years to get one resolution signed into law. But I was dedicated - my whole team was dedicated - to the steady, consistent work it takes to raise an issue up high enough in the air so that more people can see it, and then to nurture and educate those people to move change forward. Financial challenges among caregivers are real, and reducing financial despair matters. So we fought, spending countless hours trying to convince our elected officials that they could make a difference and proposing solutions. Unfortunately, for many years, we made very little progress getting bills signed. It was gutwrenching to keep watching all of our efforts - our calls, letters, social media posts, community organizing events, one-to-one meetings, media coverage, etc - be met with "maybe next year." In 2020, I relocated and wasn't able to keep my job. I bid farewell to those efforts, but missed the work and the people. I kept tabs - sent money to my favorite fundraisers and stayed in touch with many constituents - including a number of family caregivers. This week, I read a news article that a bill passed to give family caregivers tax credits in Nebraska. Nebraska is now only the second state in the U.S. offering this. That very bill was something our organization - the team I worked with - started planning with AARP in 2016. That's at least eight years, though likely much more, of pounding pavement and doing what is right. Eight years of "no." One signature later - finally - "yes." I'll close with a favorite quote from Claudia Kennedy: "Everything a person does or does not do has an effect on our society. People have to ask themselves which side they want to be on - the side of change or the side of inaction." People are counting on you. Keep going. Your efforts matter. (Me at Nebraska State Capitol, 2019)

As global development challenges like inequality and climate change worsen, philanthropy is increasingly focusing on systems change — i.e., efforts to address the complex root causes of societal problems, rather than simply addressing the problems themselves. Heather Grady at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) explores why this new focus requires a different approach to philanthropic giving, and shares key learnings from RPA’s Shifting Systems Initiative that could be useful to the broader philanthropic community working on systems change. https://lnkd.in/gaY-Q57C #philanthropy #philanthropymatters #philanthropist #philanthropic #philanthropicgiving #systemschange #systemsthinking #globaldevelopment #socialimpact #impactinvesting #impactinvestment #blendedfinance #funding #sustainabledevelopment #funders

Wait, wait do you see it? Do you see it? I see it. Folks with #adhd often get a bad rap. It presents differently for all of us - for me — I’m bad with names, don’t retain numbers, and can get so hyper focused on something that I might miss our meeting. Sorry. One of my strengths, also shared by many with neurodiverse brains, is seeing through complexity, identifying patterns and strategically mapping a way forward. I was asked recently in an interview, “What is the first word that pops into your mind when you think of your career?” Sigh, I hate one word answers. The word was “builder.” Together with incredible teams of staff, volunteers, board members and donors I’ve helped to build relationships, programs, policies, procedures, entirely new organizations, methodologies, networks, connections, impact, etc…I’ve built a body of knowledge and shared this through a book, articles, blogs, social media posts, podcasts, media interviews, workshops, mentorship, etc… All of that is what led the board and staff at Peel Children's Aid Foundation to analyze the data as it relates to funding for child welfare in this province and see the need to inspire a much greater level of philanthropic action in this part of the sector. We fund programs that address the social determinants of health. We address root causes, we work upriver. Billions of philanthropic dollars support publicy funded healthcare (and so they should...) and publicly funded universities (also necessary) — it is high time that we inspire philanthropic action on a much larger scale to equity deserving communities like ours. #childwelfare #childprotection #philanthropy Call me. 😁