Introducing a New Newsletter for Funders
Funders and philanthropic leaders are critical to community work. You can foster transformational change or get in the way of it. You can propel communities forward or take them in the wrong direction. We believe funders are critical to catalyzing and unleashing the potential of communities in moving our country forward.
That’s why we created the Harwood CIRCLE of Catalytic Funders. And it’s why we’re launching this quarterly newsletter especially for funders to help you think about how you can engage with your community in new ways.
HELPING FUNDERS EMBRACE THEIR ROLES AS CATALYSTS
“This space was marked by honesty, vulnerability, and an unwavering sense of purpose” - Jessica Muroff, CEO, United Way Suncoast
On January 16-17, with the support of The Patterson Foundation, we convened nearly 40 philanthropic leaders from around the country in Sarasota, FL, to:
Examine what it really takes for communities to transform themselves and their civic culture
Explore what it means to be a ‘catalytic’ funder and how funders can support communities in ways that go beyond financial capital
Create space for funders to learn from one another, innovate together, and discover new and deeper ways to take action in communities
Work through challenges and tensions funders face to see new possibilities for moving forward
Jessica Muroff, CEO of United Way Suncoast, wrote a compelling reflection on her experience at the convening. Building on the quote above, Muroff wrote: “Together, we’ve recommitted to stepping up—not when it’s convenient, but when it’s needed. The Harwood Institute has shown us that hope is powerful, and the work ahead is ours to do.”
JOIN OUR NEXT WEBINAR FOR FUNDERS
THE LITTLE FIELD GUIDE FOR SPARKING COMMUNITY LED CHANGE
If we want to spark community-led change, then how we do the work is as important as what we do. And the early steps we take matter—a lot. Rich tackles this, through the lens of ten essential questions that are often overlooked in community change initiatives, in his latest book, The Little Field Guide for Sparking Community-Led Change, dropping on March 25.
This book is not a paint-by-number, how-to guide for creating wholesale change. Rather, it’s a field guide, designed to laser focus us on what initially sparks community-led change and how we can catalyze it to take root, grow, and spread with an upward-sloping trajectory.
We’ll dig into The Little Field Guide’s themes and some of the essential questions on our next webinar for funders on April 23 at x pm ET. All registrants of the webinar will receive a free copy of the book to read in advance of the webinar.
HOW FUNDERS HELPED UNLEASH TRANSFORMATIONAL EDUCATION CHANGE IN READING
“In just a few short years, we’ve created a tremendous amount of action that is making a difference in people’s daily lives. What we’re creating together is taking us places we never thought we could go as a community.” - Migdalia Garcia, Regional Director of Operations for Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania
When so many communities seem stuck, Reading, PA, is creating lasting, systemic education change by taking a different approach—and funders are helping to lead the way.
Make it stand out
Our newest report, Reading’s Ripples of Change: a New Culture of Shared Responsibility, documents the ongoing transformation. It is also a roadmap for growing and accelerating change over time—in Reading and elsewhere around the country.
One reason the transformation caught on in Reading? Because of the willingness of funders to think and act differently.
Consider the United Way of Berks County and the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Team. By holding themselves accountable for really listening to the community’s aspirations, the team challenged their assumptions and made a strategic U-turn that changed Reading’s trajectory on early childhood education. The team—and the United Way— showed immense humility to admit what they thought they knew was off target. And enormous courage to pivot to align to what the community needed.
Out went the notion that addressing early childhood education challenges could be solved simply by increasing programs and services. In came a newfound determination to engage the community differently. The team has set a trajectory toward a future where early childhood education is not just accessible, but also deeply valued and embraced by the community. And along the way, strengthened community bonds and tangibly shifted Reading’s civic culture.
The Reading story proves what is possible in America. We can build a more equitable, fair, just, inclusive, and hopeful path forward—and funders can play a key role.
CONNECTING THE CAMPAIGN TO THE NEW CIVIC PATH
“Rich’s visit coincided with our own efforts to launch our ‘building bridges’ initiative. One of our big concerns going into this work is, ‘Do we have the credibility to help lead this initiative?’ What Rich’s visit did for us helped demonstrate that we do.” - Larry Olmstead, United Way of Northern California
Last year, Rich took our “Enough. Time to Build.” campaign across the country, visiting communities from Florida to Michigan to California and everywhere in between. We ran our campaign in juxtaposition to the political campaigns to show a real alternative for creating change in America today. Instead of dividing people, we found ways to bring people together. Instead of demonizing people, we recognized people’s real differences. In community after community, we heard from people that they and how they could start moving forward.
So we’re doubling down for our next phase anchored by Rich’s new book, The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation, on June 1. Watch our latest video to see where the campaign took us, where we’re headed next and how you can get involved.
The Harwood Institute in the News
Rotary Club talks education with Leadership Institute, United Way via Yahoo! News
PBS Journalist Judy Woodruff on What Ails America, and How to Fix Things via The Chronicle of Philanthropy
The Philosophy of Putting People First Featuring Maritza Coscarelli via The Patterson Foundation
Make sure you follow Rich on LinkedIn to be nourished and supported as we go together.
Forward this to a friend! Together we can create a more equitable, fair, just, inclusive, and hopeful path forward.
