Build the New: Resourcing Change for a World in Transition
Berkeley, CA April 19 – 21, 2016
Session Proposals due by Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Context
While diverse in our interests, structures and strategies, the EDGE Funders community is united by a belief that to be effective as social change grantmakers we must recognize the interconnected and systemic nature of the social, economic and environmental challenges we face. We therefore seek to promote equity and sustainable practice today, within a framework that recognizes the need for deep social and ecological transformation over the long term.
At Just Giving 2016 we hope to move more decisively from inspiration to action – to “resource the change” we see emerging in the world around us. As our framing memo notes, we will highlight intersectional strategies for systemic transformation, while strengthening donor initiatives, affinity groups and collaborative grantmaking to generate greater alignment – to move money and other resources towards the change we need. With your support and participation we’ll seek to deepen and expand efforts to develop and foster grantmaking strategies that can help transform our world, learning from and building on the transformational potential of your work and the work of your partners.
About the Conference – And Important Changes for 2016
In response to member interest in a more outcome-oriented gathering than in previous years, Just Giving 2016 is being organized less as a traditional conference and more as a facilitated retreat, focusing on the urgent need to shift philanthropic resources towards deeper systemic change.
To this end, workshops highlighting projects will be replaced by Engagement Labs focused on strategic grantmaking, convened periodically throughout the conference. Labs can be organized around issues, themes or philanthropic practice. Each, in its chosen area of emphasis, will be oriented towards broadening participation and deepening engagement in new, emerging or already existing philanthropic strategies, collaboratives, pooled funds and other initiatives developed by members of our wider community in collaboration with civil society allies.
Call for Engagement Labs – and Engagement Lab Leaders
As in the past, we would encourage members to develop Engagement Lab proposals in consultation with your civil society and movement partners.
As noted, Labs will run throughout the conference, and we are therefore looking for Engagement Lab Leaders (funders, with partner allies) to guide and motivate discussions around your interests, at various times over the course of our two and a half days together. Engagement Lab Leaders will help orient group discussions, present strategies and initiatives during public sessions attended by others, and participate in cross-issue table dialogues and world cafe-style conversations. As an Engagement Lab Leader, you are asked to guide conversations in these spaces to ensure continuity, deepen relationships, and strengthen a sense of alignment and shared purpose. Our facilitator, Adrienne Maree Brown, will move us through a process designed to elicit, as and where appropriate, strategies for collective ongoing action after the gathering itself.
Engagement Lab proposals will be reviewed by the end of January. If more than one is received on a similar topic, we may suggest collaboration. Final descriptions and additional details including speaker bios will be required by the end of February. Lab leaders will be be strongly encouraged to participate one or two webinar discussion groups, to work with Adrienne and staff and help finalize conference structures and objectives. As EDGE Engagement Lab Leaders for Just Giving 2016 (EELLs!), your input and leadership will be an important and acknowledged part of our gathering.
In addition to providing spaces for Engagement Labs, next year’s conference will also offer opportunities for funders to organize conversational Dine-Arounds, and to submit short films for Movie Night. Stay tuned for announcements on how to participate in these offerings.
Who Can Submit an Engagement Lab Proposal?
Proposals must sponsored by a grantmaker or member of the wider philanthropic community who will be attending the conference. Members (and potential members) will be given priority in the selection process. Please note, Engagement Lab Leaders must be willing to organize and cover the cost of registration, lodging, and travel for their non-funder partners.
Engagement Lab Leaders would be members (funders) and their chosen civil society partners. While others at the conference could move from group to group over the course of the two and a half days, Lab Leaders would be expected to provide continuous leadership within their proposed areas of focus.
Rather than forming a traditional Conference Planning Committee as in past years, Engagement Lab Leaders would join the Conference Co-Chairs and members of the EDGE Board in forming a Just Giving Leadership Team.
Leadership Team members, who might easily number two dozen or more, would participate in an orientation/training webinar lead by Adrienne in January, and another orientation webinar before the conference. Together with the Co-Chairs, they would have a real leadership role in helping organize, orient and guide conference descriptions, under the overall guidance our our conference facilitator.