Elemental: cultivating conditions to resource narrative power

Funders who seek to cultivate the conditions in philanthropy that enable continuous provision of resources that fortify the narrative infrastructure of global justice movements are invited to join an emerging community of practice.

Building on and complementing existing work in the philanthropic sector, this initiative was designed through a participatory process of deep listening and ideation with movement leaders, narrative practitioners, and funders. It reflects their guidance on how philanthropy can best contribute to an enabling environment for narrative power building across sectors, issues, identities, and locations.

Approach:

• Interconnection: ecosystem cultivation
• Imagination: grantmaking experimentation
• Intelligence: insight and evidence exchange
• Integration: sector alignment

Outcomes:

• Deepen the philanthropic sector’s knowledge of narrative infrastructure and power building
• Share perspectives and practices that enable philanthropy to more effectively resource this work
• Reduce the burden of funder education for movement actors
• Support collaboration among philanthropy peers and narrative practitioners
• Mobilize resources for individuals, organizations, and networks that play key roles in building and sustaining narrative infrastructure

Questions:

• What should funders know about the ways narrative power building strategies enable movement actors to achieve durable wins?
• How do the norms of philanthropy inhibit narrative infrastructure and power building? And what can funders do to improve their practices?
• How can funders align strategies to strengthen collective impact and make greater progress toward justice?