How can donors act as more than just distributors of cash – and actively use their power for amplifying change?

Donors are often seen just as mechanisms for giving out money. But in recent years, innovative funders have been experimenting with new approaches where they use their knowledge, influence, and reach to better support the systems and social change they are trying to address.

Using collaborative and network-based principles, donors have been exploring how they can: 

• Connect diverse initiatives and networks for shared learning and collaboration
• Support the collation and distribution of knowledge
• Use their power to engage additional funders, acting as a lever to support more marginalized strategies and approaches
• Understand the broader ecosystem, and invest in broad-scale movement-building efforts that help accelerate and scale their partners' missions

In this session, we will listen to donor's experiences and explore practical strategies around how donors can take on new roles to accelerate change.

By observing tried-and-tested models shared by donors themselves, and workshopping different strategies and approaches, you will walk away with insights on how donors can:

• Act as facilitators, conveners, and connectors for increased collaboration
• Build partnerships across funders and networks to foster systemic impact
• Provide non-financial support for long-term sustainability of networks
• Reduce top-down "control" while still being an important stakeholder
• Navigate the potential pitfalls and benefits of different roles

About the Speakers

Kerstin Tebbe is the founder of Collective Mind. Focused on fostering effective collective action to solve complex problems, she has 20 years of experience supporting networks and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Her passion for networks was ignited by many years working on the staff of a global network and furthered by extensive independent study and research on networks. As a consultant, advisor, and thought partner, Kerstin supports networks and multi-stakeholder initiatives around the world with strategy development, network assessment and evaluation, design and organizational review, convening, fundraising, capacity building, and network strengthening.

Félix Endara is a bilingual creative professional splitting his time between his native Ecuador and New York City. He has worked in filmmaking, philanthropy, and arts administration, collaborating with organizations such as the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, New Orleans Film Festival, and the Open Society Foundations. His films have screened at prestigious film festivals including Berlinale, DOC NYC, and Mill Valley. Félix is Chair of the Board of Working Films, an organization that convenes documentary filmmakers and grassroots activists to advance social justice. He is also the Co-Chair of the Trans/Intersex Task Force within the Global Philanthropy Project, which gathers funders whose goal is to expand philanthropic support to LGBTQI communities. An alum of the “Art of Leadership'' at the Rockwood Leadership Institute, Félix has served on selection committees for Art for Justice, BlackStar Film Festival, Creative Capital, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, Tribeca Film Festival, among many others. He currently serves as Senior Program Associate for the Mesoamerica program at the Foundation for a Just Society, a private foundation that supports feminist movements around the world.

Daniela Martinez works closely with GFC’s Central America partners to strengthen their capacity and network-building. Daniela worked for seven years with Vital Voices Guatemala, securing funds from major international donors, creating participatory learning methodologies, and implementing training programs for over 500 emerging women leaders. Before joining GFC, Daniela worked as Strategic Partnerships Consultant for Project Concern International, and as Business Development Consultant for Catholic Relief Services. Daniela holds an MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics, and a dual bachelor’s degree in Political Science and French Studies from Bryn Mawr College. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French.

Ese Emerhi is the Global Network Weaver at the Global Fund for Community Foundations. Ese has spent the past 20 years working in the international development field, supporting human rights defenders and organizations, developing non-profit boards, working with marginalized communities and groups, as well as youth-led organizations across the globe advocating for greater youth inclusion in development projects, leadership, and youth empowerment. As the project lead for the Kiisi Trust Fund, she directed a multi-million USD fund for the benefit of the Ogoni people in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, instilling a new model of participatory community-based grant making for sustainable development.

Hosted at the Pitch Tent

As the sun beats down on the vibrant network festival grounds, a colorful tent catches your attention. In the “Pitch Tent: Where Network Leaders and Funders Meet" people mingle and engage in lively conversation. In one corner, a group brainstorms ways to evaluate the impact of their collaborative efforts. Others discuss the potential for funding networks to create systems change. As attendees say their goodbyes and exchange their contact details, the sense of excitement for future collaboration lingers in the air.

What is the Networks Festival?

Embark on a month-long journey filled with connection, curiosity, and play bringing together thousands of changemakers, funders, conveners, companies, and governments to explore the power of networks to transform our world.

As you step into the festival grounds, you'll be greeted by a buzzing atmosphere of excitement and innovation. Everywhere you look, there are people eagerly discussing the latest breakthroughs in network theory, sharing stories of how networks have changed their lives and communities, and dreaming up new ways to harness the power of connections.

Leveraging the power of lived experience, we will strengthen our collective practice, directly increase funding opportunities for networks, and foster new collaborations to scale innovations and amplify transformational impact on the lives of billions around the world.

Whether you're a seasoned networker, curious changemaker, or philanthropist interest in "doing things differently" – there's something for everyone at the Networks Festival. Join us!