Ceding Power to Communities through Collective Funder Listening

Philanthropic foundations increasingly recognize that listening to the people at the heart of their work, who are the most affected by their programs and often the least consulted, is essential. Listening, done well, leads to more effective programs and more equitable outcomes. But what if you hear something you can't respond to, or that doesn't fit into your strategy? In this session, participants will explore how listening along with other funders could enable them to collectively address more of the needs and opinions that community members voice. Participants will get a chance to reflect on what collective listening could look like in their context, and the challenges or barriers they might encounter. 

Session Designer: Megan Campbell, Senior Director of Programs & Strategy, Feedback Labs