Fariha Raisa, Feedback Labs | November 16, 2022
By implementing a Theory to Action framework, Strive Together aims to build an equitable future for children and an equitable world for everyone. Strive Together invests in communities to eliminate disparities, strengthen networks, advocate for policies, and shape systems to create improved outcomes for every child, cradle to career. They serve as a financial intermediary between funders and community entities, engaging in innovative approaches to trust-based philanthropy and capacity building through coaching. To navigate feedback challenges related to effective assessment in philanthropy, Strive Together presented in a LabStorm to gather ideas from the feedback community. Discussions in the session also included aspects of asynchronous learning management systems to create high-impact instruction and coaching for community partners.
- Strategy for Authentic Feedback. To facilitate continuous learning through authentic feedback, listening tours were suggested where people could narrate their experiences. As Strive Together sets up these listening conferences, potential themes and patterns could be gaged from the narratives. Attendees highlighted the impact of sharing previous instances of course corrections based on constructive feedback from grantees to showcase that Strive Together is committed to responding to feedback which could motivate more authentic responses.
- Soliciting Feedback from Grantees. Given the power dynamic between the grantees and Strive Together, strategies were brainstormed to facilitate feedback responses. An advisory board of grantees could be set up to address the power dynamic. Grantees could also be given the opportunity for a co-creation workshop leading into the next round of grantmaking or existing grantees could help Strive Together design the next iteration as a trust-building activity.
- Feedback as a Financial Intermediary. To use feedback as an intermediary between community-based organizations and philanthropists, attendees suggested incorporating feedback as a tool for funding. Conversations with philanthropists were recommended to integrate feedback into their selection criteria. Furthermore, outlining a specific area on which Strive Together particularly wants feedback might help spark more responses from the partner organizations, thus leading to more relationship building practices.
As the engaging discussion came to a close, Strive Together reflected on the key takeaways of increasing transparency, investing in communities, and in those investing in the organizations.
Learn More About LabStorms
LabStorms are collaborative problem-solving sessions designed to help organizations tackle feedback-related challenges or share what’s working well in their practice.
Presenters leave the experience with honest, actionable feedback and suggestions to improve their feedback processes and tools.
To learn more about participating in a virtual LabStorm, please visit feedbacklabs.org/labstorms.
