Our work aims to support leaders and organizations that advance democracy, protect community and build a humane social vision.
Rooted in a long tradition of advancing ever-compelling challenges to economic equity, democratic rights, and civic participation in the United States, the New World Foundation (NWF) strengthens community-based organizations and local leadership. As a national community foundation, we work from the bottom up to build coalitions around issues that converge in place, creating alliances locally and building movements nationally: the essential ingredients of a working democracy
Paradigmatic
Not clearly paradigmatic, although they speak of “dramatic progressive advances”
Integrated
They are “aiming toward an integrated community development framework that focuses simultaneously on individual opportunity, movement-building, and community renewal” (integrating cultural/interpersonal and systems layers)
They have a history of progressive education (from 1900s), focused on development of children: “Anita [McCormick Blaine] also began funding John Dewey’s experimental school practices that gave center stage to the development of children rather than the well-being of the educational establishment. As a result, she founded the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, and the School of Education at the University of Chicago”
Pragmatic
They believe “dramatic progressive change” depends on “dynamic organizing from the ground up” and as such support various grassroots and community-led initiatives.
Additional Notes
- N.B. not clearly paradigmatic, but included as a connection to Culture Hack Labs.
- As well as philanthropy, they also deliver funder education, e.g. “we organize frequent seminars and workshops on topics like education and community development, political participation and state-based power building, the changing economy and the role of government, global environmental justice, progressive media strategies, and nonprofit leadership development. These programs bring together outside experts, NWF staff and like-minded donors for mutually beneficial explorations of politics and strategy. These seminar series offer a productive forum for diverse stakeholders to join around a funding area, and the funder education seminar and workshops often lead to substantial publications, collaborative funds, and long-term donor relationships that maximize social change impact.”
- Collaborative approach - building partnerships for impact: “Using our own resources in concert with others, NWF is building a resilient community of philanthropists that can strengthen progressive infrastructure and effect lasting social change. NWF promotes donor partnerships for greater collective impact involving both learning and giving together. Our grantmaking programs have become collaborative funds, and we engage with long-established foundations and new donors to build and advance issue initiatives and multi-issue organizational capacity that rebuilds and sustains a robust progressive policy and action agenda.”