Beth Marrion’s Post

Corporate priorities and identities change, and if our foundations don’t keep up, we can feel stale and out of touch. We brought together senior corporate philanthropy leaders in the #ESGandCSRBoard in a consultant-free, confidential environment to talk about how we revisit and change our foundation strategies. This is one of the biggest commitments someone in your job can take on, and once you get started, it’s hard to admit you’ve made a mistake. (Board Members can find the informal poll results and key takeaways from this discussion in the Member Center.) #corporatefoundation #foundations #CSRleaders

Across many industries, more and more workplaces are striving to become true "learning organizations," fostering cultures of openness and reflection where everyone feels genuinely seen and valued. At #PEAK2024Seattle, I had the awesome fortune of joining Donita Volkwijn of Philanthropy New York, Sarah Small of Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, and Lita Ugarte Pardi of PEAK Grantmaking in exploring how grants and knowledge management professionals can best support this critical journey within the nonprofit and philanthropic fields. Heading into our session, given a lot of what we do in #KM and grants management, I anticipated that much of the energy would end up being around process and technology. But in an unexpectedly happy shift, we ended up focusing largely on the "people" side of the equation and how we each show up as individuals across all of our work-related interactions. Like many other functions, KM and grants management can often get rather technical, but success often hinges much more on strong cross-departmental staff engagement. And now thinking more about my part in the journey we're on at my organization (the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), it's dawning on me how much more I have to learn about many of my colleagues' unique perspectives and aspirations. And so often, no matter what our job types may be, this is where the development work really needs to begin. Huge congrats to PEAK for yet another terrific conference - and thank you for providing space for a dialogue that I have a feeling is going to stick with me. #learning #philanthropy #knowledgemanagement #grantsmanagement #changemanagement #digitaltransformation

What a brilliant Monday afternoon webinar, thanks to Alliance magazine & Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. We loved hearing the rich variety of perspectives on systems change philanthropy and what is possible for the future, from an esteemed panel: 🌳 Masego Madzwamuse, Oak Foundation, Environment Programme Director; 🧒 Fabio Segura, Jacobs Foundation, co-CEO; ⚖ Simeon Mawanza, Porticus, Programme Manager; 📚 Marta Arranz, Learning Edge; 🗯 Alejandro Alvarez von Gustedt, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Vice President, Europe. Our key takeaways: ✨ Accountability is key: Clear supply-chain visibility, as well as between funders and partners, is more important now than ever for systems change; ✨ Connection across sectors is absolutely vital; ✨ Meaningful participation of the people programmes intend to support is essential; ✨ Power structures need to be decolonised and power structures paid close attention to, for transformative change; ✨ Distributed leadership: change doesn't have to be branded. Think: leading beyond the ego; ✨ Knowledge oppression is prevalent: we need to promote other ways of producing knowledge and evidence that can influence systems change beyond conventional forms; ✨ There has been an overemphasis on funding, rather than thinking about power structures, which are the origins of systems disfunction and injustice; ✨ Patience is essential. Change takes time and meaningful change takes even more time. Thanks to all involved! #PhilanthropyMatters #SystemsChange #NonprofitConsulting #FundraisingConsultancy

A new article highlighting collaboration in the nonprofit world: Link Arms to Elevate Your Nonprofit’s Impact: Working with like-minded people and organizations can create a deepened impact, more sustainable relationships, and a stronger funding pool for your mission - by Darice Jones, who has more than a decade experience in collaborative leadership and securing resources in service of an equitable and inclusive society.  This article describes kinds of collaborations, questions to ask to determine when to use it, and five key elements of collaborating for successful social impact partnerships: alignment, focus, communication, evaluation, and cross-marketing. Find it at: https://lnkd.in/gfA2TyQp #nonprofit #collaboration #socialimpact

There are a number of innovation barriers maintaining the status quo in philanthropy that we’ve commonly seen throughout our 16 years of increasing impact in philanthropy. The last video in our series talks about how foundation strategic focus is often too general and lacking sufficient definition to drive specific change. It introduces a more effective human-centered process that ensures strategy defines the ideal levers for change that are viable for the foundation and its capabilities; and aligned with the purpose of the organization. You can also watch our short video series about innovation in philanthropy now: https://lnkd.in/g_EHYjQi

There is nothing better than spending two full days learning from and connecting with, a room full of passionate #socialimpact professionals. I left feeling so inspired and hopeful for the future. A big thank you to The Partnership Conference and Brad Offman for bringing together purpose-based leaders to take a deep dive into the synergies between for-profit and non-profit organizations, illuminating how #community investment programs, cause sponsorship, cause marketing, advocacy initiatives, and other collaborations can be harnessed to advance our shared purpose goals. Not only does it #inspire employees and consumers, but it propels us closer to a brighter, purpose-driven future. 🌟 💙

It's Giving Tuesday! If you're an ERG leader looking to influence your company's donation or volunteering strategy...where do you start? And how do you ensure lasting impact? Some thoughts from our recent fireside chat on CSR & ERGs 👇🏽 We recently brought in Mariana Palacios-Valderrama from Justworks, Ricardhy Grandoit, SHRM-SCP from Elevate Impact, Inc. and Jeffri S. Whittington from SuitUp Incorporated to talk to Verbate's ERG Leadership Community about how ERGs can influence their company's Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. Some great takeaways from these brilliant perspectives: 💬 Everything starts with a conversation 💬 If you have a CSR team at your company, they'll likely be thrilled to chat about how you could support their strategy through your ERG initiatives. If your ERGs want to work on CSR together, set up an ERG leader meeting across all groups. There are so many conversations that can lead to aligned internal impact. As for building external relationships, the same goes! If you have a non-profit you've worked with in the past, set up a coffee chat to catch up and see if there are ways your ERG can support their upcoming goals or needs. 🤝 Collaboration is key 🤝 Increasingly, CSR, DEIB and ERG work is intersecting. Yet, each of these teams are often small, and sometimes siloed. Look for opportunities to build lasting collaborations between teams internally so that your impact can be amplified and sustained cross-functionally. Not only will these other teams appreciate it - but you'll be building new skills along the way, too. 🪜Don't underestimate 'starting small' and building structure🪜 Impact can happen at a variety of levels. While planning a 5K or a company-wide donation day is awesome, it's not always realistic given how stretched ERG leads and program managers are feeling these days. So, consider starting by building structure and reviewing processes first. For example, you can start your exploration into CSR impact by simply asking your company if they have a list of non-profits they've supported in the past. If yes, ask if you can review it - your perspective could help make this internal doc stronger. 💫 Any particular way your ERG has influencing CSR efforts? Feel free to share below in the comments! 💫 #givingtuesday #employeeengagement #ergs

Let's lead well by leading WITH wellness. We can teach you how. Learn more about how with us at GoToPlanningSchool.com See you there! ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ We are Planning School. We teach ADAPTABLE strategic planning + change leadership to EVERYDAY CHANGEMAKERS – the purpose-driven businesses, nonprofits, agencies, environmental activists and social change agents who are creating a SUSTAINABLE and INTERCONNECTED future. ❤️ You don’t have to struggle to do good in this world. ❤️ Get clear. Get focused. Get moving with confidence. #everydaychangemakers #changemakers #strategicplanning #changeleadership #planforthefuture #climateaction #nonprofit #innovators #gotoplanningschool

𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 Business and leadership are not just about profits and success but also about giving back to the community and leaving a legacy. By contributing to the greater good of society, we can create a lasting impact that will benefit generations. One way to give back is through corporate social responsibility (CSR). Companies can engage in various initiatives, such as providing donations or volunteering services, that enable them to make meaningful contributions to their communities. Additionally, businesses can use CSR to increase their brand awareness and gain loyal customers. TEK Utah's Legacy is to leave a positive impact on those around us, by providing an opportunity for our team to participate in giving back by donating our time and resources to the community. Leaders can also contribute by inspiring others and setting an example of how one individual can make a difference. Leaders can demonstrate the power of collective action by taking an active role in their organization. This kind of leadership boosts morale, creates a sense of pride in one's work, and builds better relationships between organizations and their stakeholders. Giving back is not just something we should do—it is something we must do. By leaving a legacy through corporate social responsibility initiatives and inspiring others through our leadership, we can ensure these values will pass down through the generations.   When was the last time you thought about your business and leadership legacy?

In the midst of the Maui wildfires' destruction, a powerful wave of compassion and unity has risen, as businesses and nonprofits come together. This highlights the incredible results that occur when corporate social impact leaders jump into action. Organizations across the board have stepped up to lend support, including EFG members Americares, American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Good360, Operation Blessing, Starbucks and Team Rubicon. Get inspired with their #CorporateSocialImpact responses, and learn how you can contribute too. >>> https://lnkd.in/djihKTHK