Understand the System

About

Investing time to learn about the ecosystem of your issue or community empowers you to identify gaps and leverage points for change. Hear how funders with few or no staff can begin scanning effectively, synthesize, and reflect upon their learning, focus on actionable knowledge, and discern opportunities for outsized impact. Keeping your ear to the ground also empowers you to be responsive to people best positioned to have breakthrough ideas and solutions, and advance equity goals.

Learning Objectives 

• Catalogue ways to learn about your funding areas—virtually and in person.
• Explore categories of “non-traditional informants” funders often overlook when they scan. Mention visualize funding gaps and priority needs in your community.
• Hear from funders who have been inspired by experts in their fields.