Strategy Development: Common Philanthropic Activities
Strategy development in most philanthropies includes assessing the need, opportunity, and funding ecosystem; defining a vision and purpose for the grantmaking program; and identifying the best philanthropic approach to pursue the vision and purpose. Strategy development may include significant consultative processes and in-depth research, as well as defining funding foci of geography, issue area, levels of intervention, priority populations, size and type of funding, etc.
QUESTIONS FOR THE JUSTICE FUNDER:
- What is the role of my portfolio or of my foundation in the broader movement and philanthropic landscape?
- How much overlap and alignment is there between my strategy and the strategies of the communities and movements I support? How can that alignment be strengthened or increased, or be used to leverage gains?
- What role do stakeholder communities have in shaping funding priorities and the strategy development for my portfolio?
- How can I be mindful about supporting the long-term development of community and movement infrastructure, while remaining nimble enough to support emerging work?
TRANSITIONAL PRACTICE
Incorporating race, class, gender, age, immigration status, language, ability, sexual orientation, and incarceration history into developing analysis
TRANSFORMATIONAL PRACTICE
Building institutional commitment to priorities and strategies from movement leaders and grantees in setting portfolio vision, goals and objectives