Pisces Foundation’s Post

From dynamic environmental shifts to emerging social challenges, traditional approaches to Philanthropy are being reimagined. Dive into this thought-provoking article to explore innovative approaches shaping the future of philanthropy. Written by Otto Scharmer at Medium

Just released: "Illuminating the Invisible" - Exclusive interviews featuring the power of social impact infrastructure organizations in advancing impact at scale. "If we want to really create deeper change, we think philanthropy should not remain simply a sector that fills gaps left by government or market, but actually helps trigger transformation,” Benjamin Bellegy, Executive Director of WINGS.  Check out and share this fascinating study from Propel Philanthropy, supported by WINGS, on the work of social impact infrastructure organizations and the contribution they make to the philanthropy sector across the world. https://lnkd.in/gARyv8ZQ

This unexpected impact dimension of philanthropy is key for addressing the polycrisis humanity is facing today. There is no other player out there who can unlock systems change at the dimension required to build for people a socially just and environmentally sound future. James Drinkwater, Laudes Foundation and Max von Abendroth, The Partnering Initiative explore the unexpected impact dimension of philanthropy in our latest Opinion. https://bit.ly/4bKmInu

Another day, another powerful session by Andy Bryant from the Segal Family Foundation at the Philanthropy Australia conference, where he delved into the transformative concept of trust-based philanthropy. Andy’s insights were not just theoretical but drawn from real-world applications in challenging environments. One of Andy’s key points was the necessity of decentralising decision-making to the local teams who have a deeper understanding of the needs and dynamics of their communities - I snapped two things Andy said, one I’ll save for later. However, he eloquently stated, "By putting agency in the hands of our teams, it's actually made us faster and a heck of a lot smarter." This approach not only enhances efficiency but also ensures that the funded initiatives are more relevant and impactful. Few highlights from Andy’s Talk: - Localised Decision-Making: Teams on the ground develop strategies and make decisions, ensuring that interventions are tailored to local needs. - Checks and Balances: While empowering local teams, there's a robust framework to ensure compliance and financial integrity, balancing trust with accountability. - Outcome-Focused: Despite the shift in approach, maintaining clear programmatic focus and impact metrics is crucial. This doesn't mean relaxing standards but evolving them to be more inclusive and representative. Thanks, Andy, again, very inspiring. What were your takeaways? I’d love to hear them, including thoughts on trust-based philanthropy as a whole. #Philanthropyinaction #PAConference2024 Philanthropy Australia Maree Sidey Kim Harland Ryan Ginard, CFRE Segal Family Foundation

Being curious I decided to check out the "My 2024 LinkedIn Rewind" powered by Coauthor. AI isn't all it's cracked up 🤣 to be so here is my revised version: In an era of disposable everything, 2024 proved that what matters most is what we repair, preserve, and build together and that real change happens in small steps taken together ⚒️💫 From opening the doors of Old Admiralty Building for the first time during Open House Festival to marking 110 years since WW1 at DBT's Remembrance Commemoration, this year also showed how preserving history helps us build stronger communities. Some moments made my community heart sing: - Led Totally Leighton Buzzard's Repair Cafe through 10 successful events, collectively saving 3,973kg of CO2 emissions (equivalent to growing 66 tree seedlings for 10 years) - Initiated "Borrowers LB" Library of Things project, named in honor of local author Mary Norton - Contributed to The Restart Project BREW's citizen science research on e-waste management - Helped secure Central Bedfordshire Council as 2nd UK council to sign the UK Repair and Reuse Declaration - Coordinating Leighton Buzzard's Great Big Green Week and annual Volunteering Fair - Opening Old Admiralty Building's doors for the first time during the Open City Festival Most meaningful posts this year: "Still pinching myself..." - First-ever participation of Old Admiralty Building in Open House Festival, democratizing access to our architectural heritage https://lnkd.in/exXNq3kf "2024 marks 110 years since WW1..." - Leading DBT's annual Remembrance Commemoration, preserving stories of 305 Board of Trade men https://lnkd.in/et9kdtvT "What is the total impact..." - Celebrating our repair community's achievement in preventing nearly 4000kg of CO2 emissions https://lnkd.in/eVZS6u_m The numbers tell one story: - over 2359 Facebook and over 1713 Instagram followers - over 10 community repair events organised The real impact is in the connections made, the skills shared and the growing sense that together we can make a difference 🧡 Looking ahead: 2025 will see: - the launch of Borrowers LB, expanding our community's capacity to share resources while preserving both objects and connections. - expanding Repair Cafe LB's reach and impact - building more bridges and connections through work of Trade Historians Group keeping institutional memory alive To all the dedicated repair volunteers, fellow historians, and everyone working to preserve what matters: thank you for showing that the strongest communities are built on what we choose to keep, protect, and share. Community is built in the small moments. Here's to more of those moments in 2025. Together we are stronger 💪 #repair #preservation #community #totallyleightonbuzzard #sustainability #LinkedInRewind Get your 2024 LinkedIn Rewind! Go to coauthor.studio

In a time of global crises - ranging from the erosion of democratic values to the climate emergency - philanthropy faces both immense challenges and critical opportunities. In this post, I explore how philanthropists can navigate the complexities of today’s polarized world by reflecting on their core values and understanding the mutual reliance between civil society and democracy. Philanthropy has a crucial responsibility to act, as its engagement is vital for upholding democratic ideals and addressing the urgent issues of our time, from social trust to environmental justice. By acting boldly and with purpose, philanthropy can shape a more just, sustainable future for all.   https://lnkd.in/dRbJmPhZ .

I am flying back from Chicago, where I attended an innovative conference sponsored by Council on Foundations, called #BuildingTogether. The meeting explored how to address toxic polarization at a moment when it is on the rise. Powerfully, I thought, the conference (which our partner, Mosaic, helped sponsor) focused on more than just skills and academics. Rather, it helped diverse attendees “develop the heartset, mindset, and skillset to lead collaboratively across difference.” Bridging difference, which is a component of effective #movement building, has to be approached with integrity and authenticity. It can’t occur if those engaged don’t fundamentally agree on the each other’s shared humanity, as The Greater Good Science Center emphasized. But the possibilities are significant when done well, with an open heart, mind, and the skills to engage with those who see things differently. This was the lesson of a panel on building a more powerful #climate movement I moderated with an exceptional group of leaders, Jacqueline Patterson, Susan Hendershot, Ariana Gonzalez, and Katie Robinson, who bring a range of skills and perspectives to the work. Without exception, they shared stories where bridging efforts generated impact and results by finding important zones of common ground, ranging from broad coalitions that helped ensure passage of the #IRA, to various new #environmental policies, to the expansion of efforts to advance #environmentaljustice in communities across the country. Katie Robinson, Mosaic’s director, said it well in the opening plenary in describing the bridging work that Mosaic’s Governance Assembly accomplished in recent years in making nearly $30 million in grants to build the shared capacity of environmental advocates. About this group, who are in many ways a fractal of the broader #climate movement, Katie said, “over the past several years these leaders have done the hard work to build the trust necessary to advance our collective capacity to solve climate challenges. They have moved from wariness to relationship.” I would add that this means they, and the groups they lead, share something that is both powerful and rare: each other’s insight. Given the pace and scale of the challenges we all face, that is no small thing. Check out the The Chronicle of Philanthropy story (with quotes from Katie, Kathleen Enright, Monica Guzman, The New York Times columnist David Brooks, Tracy Cutler, Paul Bachleitner, Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D., Eric Ward). https://lnkd.in/gFG9XtFz

We strongly believe mountains have the power to transform lives, connect people, and inspire greater responsibility in our personal lives and businesses. Our dedicated non-profit partners make the joy of mountain sports more accessible to marginalized and historically excluded populations, contribute to conservation efforts, and promote political engagement for effective climate policy.   Here are some examples of Mammut’s community engagement in supporting impactful organizations like:   - American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA): We support the AMGA's BIPOC Scholarship and Women’s Scholarship, helping to break down barriers and promote diversity in the guiding profession.   - ClimbAID: This non-profit brings the joy and benefits of climbing to communities affected by war and poverty, focusing on mental health, social integration, and personal development. We are honoured to be their primary partner since 2020, providing equipment, financial support, and volunteers.   - Protect Our Winters Switzerland (POW): Founded by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones, POW advocates for stricter climate legislation to protect our planet. In 2023, Mammut joined forces with Patagonia to support the Swiss Outdoor Coalition, part of POW Switzerland's broader advocacy strategy.   Learn more about Mammut’s community engagement in our Responsibility Report https://lnkd.in/eupPE_ti

Relational philanthropy is about fostering meaningful connections, collaborating, and embracing diverse perspectives to build stronger communities. Learn more about this new approach to relationship building in Stanford Social Innovation Review: https://bit.ly/4fBfIfV

In the latest Inside Philanthropy article, Liza Mueller, our Vice President of Thought Leadership, explains the purpose behind our Signal Fund. As she states, the goal is to "send a signal to other capital providers to go ahead and do that due diligence and look under the hood at these organizations, meet these individuals, and determine if they’re right for your portfolio.” The article also explores how regranting is emerging as a powerful tool to help scale environmental impact, enabling smaller organizations to access funding and support local efforts through larger, pooled resources. ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ejYmRMXA