RE/ORGANISING POWER
For Systems Change
Just Giving 2017 – Barcelona, Spain – April 25-28, 2017
Call for Sessions
The deadline to submit Session/Discussion Proposals was Friday, December 2, 2016
Context
The EDGE Funders community beliefs that we must address the systemic nature of the social, economic and environmental challenges we face. We therefore seek to promote equity and sustainable practice today, within a framework that recognizes the need for deep social and ecological transformation over the long term.
At Just Giving 2017, we will discuss how citizen action and progressive philanthropy can re-organise power to address this transformation. Based on the pillars of people power, systemic alternatives and alternative philanthropy, the Just Giving program will be designed to engage participants in deep debates about the challenges the world is facing today. Our goal will be to strengthen alignment and build shared strategies for moving more resources towards various frontlines of systemic change.
About the Conference – And Important Changes for 2017
Last year’s conference was organized around “Engagement Lab” conversations, allowing groups of funders and civil society allies to reconvene daily to deepen exploration of issues and opportunities, resulting, it was hoped, in a more outcome-oriented conference. Just Giving 2017 is again being organized less as a traditional conference and more as a facilitated retreat, focusing on ways of shifting philanthropic resources towards deeper systemic change.
We will continue with key elements from previous gatherings:
- Daily plenaries and featured speakers will stimulate our thinking and imaginations, followed by small group discussions to deepen conversations and affinities among participants;
- Partner engagement – EDGE is often referred to as a space “for funders, with movements,” and funders may again sponsor participation of a grantee partner or social movement ally who would contribute to our discussions;
- A daily round of concurrent workshops, “Dine-Around” dinner conversations, and ad hoc spaces will allow funders and partners to share content about initiatives and strategies;
- Serial rounds of Engagement Labs will provide opportunities for deeper reflection and explorations of how funders can better support moments for systemic change in key areas; Action Labs will bring together those interested in exploring and organizing collective and coordinated action around existing funder initiatives or new ones that emerge;
- Site visits and community meetings will be organized in and around Barcelona by knowledgeable funders and members of the Local Advisory Committee.
A special note on Engagement and Action Labs – While plenaries, workshops and other sharing spaces will provide opportunities for highlighting initiatives and projects (emphasizing “content”), Engagement Lab conversations, convened periodically throughout our time together, will take up the challenge of how progressive philanthropy can engage more deeply and effectively within key areas of shared interest. When relevant, Action Labs will help groups of funders (with their partner allies) move from discussion to action. Together, Engagement and Action Labs will this year aim more acutely at developing strategic, collective grantmaking initiatives or other forms of collaboration aimed at deepening long term systemic change.
Labs can be organized around issues, themes or philanthropic practice. Each, in its chosen area of emphasis, will be oriented towards broadening participation and deepening engagement in new, emerging or already existing philanthropic strategies, collaboratives, pooled funds and other initiatives developed by members of our wider community in collaboration with civil society allies.
Call for Sessions – Initial Round
As in the past, we encourage EDGE members and allied funders to develop proposals in consultation with your civil society and movement partners.
This initial Call for Sessions might more accurately be described as a Call for Ideas – Rather than submitting fully formed workshops or presentations, we are at this stage asking for your thoughts on what – within the context of our Conference Theme and description – you think are key ideas, initiatives, strategies and joint proposals you would like to see our community engage with and perhaps build on over the coming period.
Initial proposals submitted will be reviewed in early December, and those proposing ideas will be informed by December 20 of how we propose to proceed. If we receive proposals around similar ideas from multiple funders, we may suggest collaboration and joint submission in a second round.
Session Proposals (Round 2), which will require a more refined, final description along with speakers and their bios, will due by the end of January. Those proposing sessions will be invited to participate in a webinar discussion around that time to help finalize conference structures and objectives. In this sense input and leadership of session leaders for Just Giving 2017 will be an important and acknowledged part of our gathering.
Who Can Submit a Session Proposal?
Proposals must be submitted and sponsored by a grantmaker or member of the wider philanthropic community who will be attending the conference. Partnerships with social movement actors are welcome and encouraged. EDGE members (and potential members) will be given priority in the selection process.
Please note that in addition to their own Conference registration fees, session leaders must be willing to organize and cover the cost of registration, lodging, and travel for their non-funder partners.
If you have any questions, drop us a line: luciana@edgefunders.org or tobias@edgefunders.org