Established in 2006, the NoVo Foundation supports initiatives that promote a holistic, interconnected and healing vision for humanity. As a country, we find ourselves in the most unstable time since the Civil War. Current and historically marginalized and oppressed populations in this country (and around the world) are in ever more precarious positions with no indication that circumstances will be improving.
After over fourteen years of learning and over 700 million dollars invested, unfortunately, this reality is not surprising. The collapse we have been expecting is surely underway. And, as is always the case, marginalized communities will bear the brunt. We will continue to support communities as they undertake the complex work of reimagining and rebuilding the world they’ve hoped to see for generations.
Pre-construction. Working on solutions now so old patterns of power can’t, once again, re-form to rebuild and continue to repress.
Paradigmatic
’- They speak of seeking to catalyse transformation from ‘power over’ to ‘power with’ cultures
- The foundation was “created from the core belief that humanity is at a crossroads and our current culture is deeply out of balance.”
- Intersystemic analysis: “We know that this current moment has been created by a complex set of entangled systems that have subjugated, oppressed and ignored many for the benefit of the few. And continuing divisions—through political, social and economic means—only fuel the furthering of centralized power.”
- “guided by a vision of a shared future, building rather than fighting, and breaking out of “silos”/identity and moving toward shared kinship through the slow process of healing trauma that is relational, generational and cultural.”
- Peter Buffett (co-President of the Foundation) wrote this in an article in the NY Times: “What we have is a crisis of imagination. Albert Einstein said that you cannot solve a problem with the same mind-set that created it. Foundation dollars should be the best “risk capital” out there. There are people working hard at showing examples of other ways to live in a functioning society that truly creates greater prosperity for all (and I don’t mean more people getting to have more stuff). Money should be spent trying out concepts that shatter current structures and systems that have turned much of the world into one vast market.”
Integrated
’- They see “rebalancing feminine ways of being throughout our culture” as a core part of their mission
- Peter Buffett (co-President of Foundation) in an article for the NY Times writes about current crisis as a “crisis of imagination”
- Their vision includes interpersonal and cultural transformation: “moving toward shared kinship through the slow process of healing trauma that is relational, generational and cultural.”
- Their Timeline page (https://novofoundation.org/timeline/) mentions ongoing education work ‘focused on learning environments aware of the “whole child”’
- In 2012, “NoVo invested further—and more deeply—in work to bring “social-emotional” practices into schools (“SEL”). Our partnership with CASEL created a collaboration of school districts to create system-wide changes that support optimal social and emotional learning opportunities in schools and classrooms across the country.”
- Self-aware of the complexity of possibly being part of the problem by trying to fix problems or change the world through philanthropy, see P. Buffet’s article on the Charitable-Industrial Complex.
- Support indigenous and other marginalised people’s knowledge and voices
Pragmatic
Two of their most recently funded programs listed on their organisation timeline on their website include:
- “Move to End Violence Program Sunsets: MEV was a capacity-building and leadership development program for U.S. leaders working to end gender-based violence. During its duration of 10 years, they provided funding, resources, coaching, and other forms of support for cohorts of leaders and convened them to build relationships across communities, to access the spaciousness required for strategic thinking, and to build stronger movements. Over the ten years, the program supported 100 movement makers, awarded $15M+in grants, supported 95 organizations as well as 100+ staff and consultants.”
- “Since 2016, the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in Action Fund has fueled a movement of educator-led SEL practices that benefit K-12 students in hundreds of public school classrooms nationwide. Its flagship program, the SEL in Action Awards, has granted more than $3.5 million to teachers and other school-based educators and more than $7.5 million to district leaders to build and grow fresh ideas to support educator wellbeing and student social, emotional and academic development. Companion programs have provided an additional $4.75 million to school districts to support community- and region-wide SEL development, a focus on SEL in COVID-19 school recovery plans, and increased teacher morale and retention.”
Key Publications
’- Peter Buffett, ‘The Charitable-Industrial Complex’ (2013): https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/opinion/the-charitable-industrial-complex.html
- Edgar Villanueva, Decolonizing Philanthropy (2018) -NoVo Foundation supported the launch of this book, which “analyzes the colonial dynamics at play within philanthropy and offers a path towards balance based in the guidance of Indigenous leaders” and includes a foreword by Jennifer and Peter Buffett
- Peter Buffett, ‘NoVo at 14. Continuing to Learn’ (2020): https://medium.com/@isound77/novo-at-14-continuing-to-learn-3a2087bdeb1
Additional Notes
’- Key people: Jennifer and Peter are the Co-Presidents of the foundation. They also co-chair the Board of Directors. Peter Buffett is the youngest son of investor Warren Buffett.
- Inner workings of org: “NoVo’s operations, partnerships and finances are guided and led by a team rather than an executive director. Decisions are considered collectively and in a non-hierarchical manner.” — would be curious to hear more about how they do this (what specific governance and decision-making structures or processes)