Process
We’re using a participatory design process to understand systems change grantmaking and re-imagine its future: drawing on the perspectives of marginalized communities, local leaders, applicants, grantees, staff, advisors, and donors.
Two ideas are core to the approach: (1) showing (not just talking) and (2) learning by making (not just planning). We’ll spend time with stakeholders to see how they consume information, interpret words, and make decisions. We’ll visualize and mock-up ideas to garner feedback and quickly revise concepts, all with a spirit of openness and curiosity.
Contextualizing
& framing
Immersive research with Vancouver Foundation staff, community advisors and board members to learn how they conceptualize systems, gauge capacity and conditions for change, and make decisions.
Synthesis of quantitative data to understand granting patterns.
Scan of international literature to understand role of community foundations in systems change, and collate existing practices.
Making & testing
Interviews and observations with community members and organizations to understand realities of and barriers to systems change.
Prototyping or trying out different ways to engage community in setting priorities, applying for funding, and exerting influence. This will look like testing tools, processes, interactions, etc.
Codifying & storytelling
Visualizing promising grant-making processes and practices.
Documenting project learning and laying the groundwork for implementation.