Listening and Feedback Practices

The National Center for Family Philanthropy supports the Fund for Shared Insight’s belief that foundations and nonprofits are more impactful and effective when they regularly and deeply listen to the people and communities at the heart of their work. This Content Collections share examples and stories of listening and learning practices that value lived expertise and advance equity. As FSI notes in it’s Funder Action Menu, “Those who have been the most harmed by the systems and structures we are seeking to impact have the greatest insight into how to bring about lasting, meaningful change that can improve lives in ways people define for themselves.

Reports and Guides

Listening & Feedback: A Funder Action Menu

Tool

This menu from Fund for Shared Insights offers a conversation-starter to help foundations think in a systematic way about how they can promote listening and feedback across the many dimensions of their work.

Just Listening: Principles and Practices for Advancing Equity through High Quality Listening and Feedback

Report

Fund for Shared Insight adopted this set of equity principles in July 2021, codifying a commitment to hold equity as an explicit and centered value, priority, and goal.

Bridging The Gap: A Review of Foundation Listening Practices

Report

While much has been written about how funders can pursue direct listening at the local scale, comparatively less has been written about how larger systems-level funders working across multiple geographies can approach this work in meaningful ways. Based on their research, the authors recommend the following as particularly promising and…

More than Numbers: A Guide Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Data Collection

Report

This guide, developed by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, is designed to help organizations collect the demographic data they need to make informed decisions and reflect the true diversity of the communities they serve.

Voices and Perspectives from Colleagues

Honoring Time: Grantseeker Compensation

Blog Post

How can funders honor the time that grantseekers spend on application processes in instances where the nonprofit is not selected for a grant? In cases where they are, will the grant award cover the time and expense the grantee spent? Read on to find out how the Walter and Elise…

Why and How Family Foundations Can Advance Equity Through Participatory Measurement

Blog Post

Courtesy of Pace Center for Girls  The recent investment by MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett in funder coalitions Fund for Shared Insight and Equitable Evaluation Initiative—both dedicated to increasing participant feedback in evaluation—is the latest vote of support for gathering evidence of program impact in ways that engage program participants…

Case Studies and Examples

Whole Philanthropy: Chicago Beyond’s Approach to Operationalizing Transformation

Article

Whole Philanthropy is Chicago Beyond's approach to operationalizing transformation. The foundation seeks to build a deep foundation of trust and solidarity with its partners to achieve our mutual aspirations for Chicago’s young people. This document shares more about the approach and partnership model.

Family Foundation Finds Focus in Grantee Relationships

Blog Post

In recent years, GMA Foundations has worked with the Celia Lipton Farris and Victor W. Farris Foundation to define and hone its grantmaking focus. The process involved deep listening and learning and strengthened grantee relationships.  Cohesive family giving across geography and generations is patient work. Trustees’ willingness to listen to…

Webinars and Workshops

July 28, 2020

How Family Foundations Can Listen4Good

Philanthropy is an ever-evolving practice. It's clear that partnering with and listening to the people and communities family foundations seek to serve are instrumental to realizing positive and enduring impact over time. This webinar describes Fund for Shared Insight’s Listen4Good feedback initiative and provides guidance on how you and your grantees…