Giving Compass' Take:

• John Richardson, writing for Exponent Philanthropy, offers insight for small-staffed funders to discern potential social change ideas. 

• How can individual philanthropists utilize these practices to fund meaningful work? 

• Read about activist philanthropy: a systems approach to social change. 

Many foundations avoid being the first funder of new initiatives. For the Blackstone Ranch Institute, being first-in is often the ultimate sweet spot.

For over a decade, our foundation has been placing early philanthropic investments in a broad range of new initiatives in the environment and sustainability fields. Very often they have been the first grant.

Whereas part of our ability comes from experience and intuition (as in, does this feel right?), a number of considerations go into our initial assessment of opportunity that allow us to base an intuition upon a solid foundation. Our hunches, in that sense, are carefully calculated hunches.

Almost all the innovative social entrepreneurs we support with our philanthropic grants come out of the broad network we have developed over the years. It is a network that we have built one relationship at a time. As the director, I have made sure—particularly in the beginning of our development—to meet prospective grantees in person and have lengthy conversations with them about who they are and what they are doing, a necessary prelude to our assessment of the viability of their ideas and intentions. This is a natural form of early vetting, and one that allows me to align what I am seeing and hearing with my intuition.

There are skills and practices small-staffed funders can develop to discern whether a conversation with someone is revealing something that has the potential to make real and significant change in the world.

  • Understand the context
  • Look for the emerging potential
  • Listen for leverage points for change
  • Assess the credibility
  • Look for passion and excitement
  • Look for commitment
  • Feel a sense of trust

Read the full article about funders investing in real change by John Richardson at Exponent Philanthropy.