Elevate Children Funders Group Strategic Plan Summary (2021-2023)
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Elevate Children Funders Group Strategic Plan (2021-2023) .. r. oa n s rld whe n ca a wo re all childre ing on si vi n E 1 Dear ECFG members and partners, In 2021, Elevate Children Funders Group (ECFG) celebrates a new areas of work in decolonizing philanthropy and child and decade of history working within philanthropy to more effectively youth participation as core elements of ensuring we reach our meet the needs of the world’s most marginalized and vulnerable end goals. It calls on all of us - as individuals, organizations, a children. During one of the most tumultuous times in recent network, and a field - to collaborate more purposefully in support memory, in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic and of increased and improved funding for children and youth. worldwide challenges to racial injustice and colonial structures, our network set out to reexamine and renew our shared purpose, We are eager and excited to dive into implementing this plan and chart a path forward via a new strategic plan. with our members and the broader community of organizations and individuals working to change the world for children. ECFG With the expert help of I.G. Advisors, we designed an ambitious is a small but intrepid group that recognizes that we truly are and incredibly participatory process including extensive stronger together. May the enthusiasm and energy we have put consultations with external stakeholders and a series of grantee into this effort continue to carry us forward as we collectively focus groups. Together, we engaged in serious inquiry about author the next important chapter of ECFG’s work to help the change we wanted to see in the world, how we thought change the world with and for children. that change might happen, and what actions we could take collectively to make the biggest impact. We are so grateful for In solidarity, all of you who willingly stepped forward to lend your voice to this process. In a testament to the energy and solidarity we have Mark Guy built over the past couple of years, every one of our member Senior Program Officer organizations contributed to this strategic development effort, GHR Foundation and the result is all the better for it. ECFG Steering Committee Chair What has emerged is an inspiring new direction for ECFG that Heather Hamiton expands upon the successful work of the past several years and Executive Director positions the network to adapt to complex and dynamic realities Elevate Children Funders Group in the years ahead. It recognizes that realizing rights is central to child and youth wellbeing, and that we have a special responsibility to reach the most marginalized and vulnerable. It presents bold elevate children funders group 2 Vision and Mission VISION: MISSION We are the leading global network of funders focused We envision a world where exclusively on the wellbeing and rights of children and youth. We support children and youth by building a community of children and youth can funders and creating spaces for: thrive, exercise their rights, Greater learning and effectiveness and live a life free from in how we use our individual resources More collaboration and alignment adversity. We focus on the across our varied philanthropic strategies Collective action for more and better most marginalized and funding, and support for our wider field vulnerable to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence. elevate children funders group 3 Ecosystem Theory of Change Since the traditional way of thinking about a Theory of Change The Ecosystem Theory of Change contains several layers: is quite linear - charting the A-to-B steps between the current problem, and the intended impact - attempting to take a VISION: collective or systems view of creating change can present a the ideal end state for children challenge. ECFG knows that creating impact for children and and youth globally (long term) youth is not linear; the field is a complex system within which change is multifaceted. GUIDING PRINCIPLES Because of this, ECFG decided to develop an ecosystem view high-level values and approaches of the children and youth funding space, working together to the network stands for develop a map of the desired outcomes for the field as a whole. This Theory of Change is meant to be a tool for funders in OUTCOMES the child and youth space; a framework for discussing goals, a breakdown and more detailed descriptors of priorities, and needs; and a map to find leverage points. It is not the ideal end states for each stakeholder group necessarily tailored to the needs of other actors in the ecosystem in the mid-term (medium term) or an exhaustive exploration of children’s needs. We do hope that it serves as an initial contribution to what is a much broader conversation needed in our field. PRECONDITIONS statements describing the change required The Ecosystem Theory of Change positions funders as one of to achieve the outcomes, split into structural three interdependent stakeholder groups: 1) children & youth (policy, practice & resource flows), relational themselves (plus their immediate caregivers and communities); 2) (relationships, connections and power dynamics), the practitioners and institutions that impact their lives (including and transformational (mental models) (near term) grantees and state infrastructure); and 3) the resource holders who enable that impact (i.e. funders and ECFG members). Each of these groups have specific outcomes they are striving to achive towards the vision for children. This non-linear approach acknowledges the ways each group can inform, influence, and add value to the others’ work, framing the ecosystem as regenerative, rather than extractive. elevate children funders group 4 STAKEHOLDERS PRECONDITIONS 3 AND OUTCOMES 4 near term changes that are necessary to BEFORE YOU START ECOSYSTEM mid-term achieve mid-term outcomes, based on the changes for each Water of Change systems-change model THEORY OF CHANGE stakeholder group The traditi onal way of thinking about PR Structural (policy, practi ce, & resource fl ows) a Theory of Change is linear, charti ng A C Relati onal (relati onships, connecti ons, & power dynamics) steps from current problem to intended TI TI impact. However, when taking a holisti c T O Transformati onal (mental models) ran N view of the fi eld, the linear model sfo E rm R struggles to accommodate the volume a S ti o & of diff erent actors, the complexity of na l IN interdependencies, and the realiti es of Stakeholders: C + S s H overlapping and siloed work, funding pe St T PRACTITIONERS ci A ru I fi c T fl ows, varying qualiti es of programmes, 1 cs N t U d u & INSTITUTIONS e G ra and misaligned approaches. t l T a I ile E + O We have left the linear model behind Outcomes: d S o R N OUR VISION n el and taken more of an ecosystem view of Children and young people p S a a g ti the children and youth funding fi eld. We are recognized as acti ve e o 7 n wanted to create a map of the desired AT THE CORE OF ALL THAT WE DO IS agents in their own lives al outcomes for the fi eld as a whole, so OUR VISION, OUR SHARED PURPOSE: A focus on systems thinking & have developed a radial theory of change, rights-based Interventi ons acknowledging the ways each stakeholder Strengthened evidence & frameworks group can inform, infl uence, and add value We envision a world Cross-sector collaborati on to the other’s work. Well funded infrastructure C where children and H T r I a We recognize that this is just an initi al G PRINC L IN I n ID PLE contributi on to what is a much broader youth can thrive, U S s D G f o R conversati on needed in our fi eld. It is not r m exercise their rights, E meant to be comprehensive, but a starti ng a ti N Stakeholders: s o p point for discussion. , C n and live a life free e a Y ci CHILDREN, YOUTH, l H fi O We hope that funders in the space will be + c from adversity. s U & COMMUNITIES A able to use this as a map to identi fy ‘levers’ d e T S N that can be pulled for greater individual, t t a r Outcomes: H l i organisati onal, and collecti ve impact. u G e OUR c Marginalized children & d t & u o E r youth are centered n a C l p S VISION Children & youth thrive a + O g Children are safeguarded e M 8 2 Children’s rights are R l e HOW TO READ M understood and upheld a ti U o n N l GUIDING PRINCIPLES a I Stakeholders: T Vision 1 I RESOURCE E These principles are not goals or outcomes, S but underlying principles and values that HOLDERS Guiding Principles are needed to achieve this vision. They 2 Outcomes: are inherent in every stage of the change There is more money, bett er spent process. To achieve this vision, we must... T r Philanthropic practi ces are equitable a s n Stakeholders and Outcomes p 3 s Stand in solidarity with children, youth, Resource holders understand and e f i c o fi r c & grassroots movements practi ce power shift ing approaches m s C a d ti e Shift power within ourselves, our Resource holders prioriti ze H o t Preconditi ons a n l i R 4 insti tuti ons, & our sectors a community- centred, e A l d E + o N Champion rights-based, intersecti onal parti cipatory approaches S n p O G a S approaches g t U e E r This may also be read in reverse directi on, u 6 R c Champion whole child approaches S t u starti ng with the preconditi ons that C r a Champion gender justi ce across all work E l + your organizati on seeks to infl uence and Use a systems change lens H working back to how that contributes to R l e O Prioriti zeglobal collaborati on a ti L the shared vision.