Investing in Systems Change Capacity

Across the board, philanthropy seeks to achieve enduring, system-level change. Many funders have learned that a critical lever for change is shifting the conditions and capacities of the system. Any funder can adopt this approach, regardless of issue area, geographic reach, or level of giving.

But what exactly is system capacity, why should funders invest in it, and how have staff successfully aligned their foundations with this approach?

Join us to explore these questions in a conversation led by Susan Misra, Principal and Founder of Aurora Commons, and Marissa Guerrero, Civil Society and Leadership Program Officer at The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Susan and Marissa will be joined by Judy Wright, Director of State Programs with the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity (CGRE).

The panel will discuss key findings from Misra and Guerrero’s recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, “Investing in Systems Change Capacity,” which identifies three central similarities across funders who have successfully used this approach of investing in the capacity of systems to change systems. The webinar will also provide an opportunity for participants to apply the findings to their own institutions, accessing peer guidance on how to shift strategy, achieve buy-in, and more.