Are You a Field-Minded Leader or Organization?

Field-minded leaders and organizations ask strategic questions about how their work fits into and can enhance the efforts of their entire ecosystem–and how their organizations need to be designed to achieve their field-level goals. 

Examples of field-minded strategy questions and organizations who have grappled with them

A graphic depiction of a network with interconnected nodes and lines

We see the bigger system that is holding this problem in place and a siloed field that needs greater connectivity and resourcing. What type of new field-level initiative could better resource, equip, and align efforts in order to tackle the problem more effectively?

Featured organizations: 

  • Liberation Ventures (reparations; United States)

  • Mosaic (environment; United States)

  • Girls Not Brides (child marriage; global)

Icon of three people connected by lines, representing a network or team.

A key limit we see to large-scale progress is persistent gaps between sectors, entities, and people with relevant knowledge and roles. How might we create targeted capacity, new collaborative vehicles, and the conditions to bridge these gaps in order to unlock greater potential for sustained, systemic impact?

Featured organizations:

  • Financing Alliance for Health (health financing; several countries in Africa)

  • Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Research Colectiva (Hispanic Serving Institutions in postsecondary education; United States)

  • 10to19 Dasra Adolescents Collaborative (adolescent health and wellbeing; India)

Bar graph with an upward trending line showing growth or progress

We see a window of opportunity to accelerate progress at a population-level. How can we build field-level infrastructure that can help us translate this moment into a more durable, widespread understanding of the issue and grow the ecosystem of players working on it longer term?

Featured organizations: 

  • Power to Decide (unwanted pregnancy; United States)

A digital compass display with a dark background and white directional markings.

We have hit an “impact ceiling” with our direct service, research, or advocacy work. How might we need to evolve our strategy and internal capabilities to help shift the systemic conditions that limit progress toward the vision we are working toward?

Featured organizations: 

  • All Our Kin (early childhood education; United States)

  • Student Experience Research Network (student experience; United States)

  • Community Change (poverty; United States)

Black infinity symbol logo on a white background

Our work will end by x date and this challenge will outlast us. What set of priorities, target outcomes, and partnerships will position us to contribute meaningfully to lasting capacity for systemic change beyond our chosen end date?

Featured organizations: 

  • WaterSHED (toilet access; Cambodia)

Black and white line drawing of puzzle pieces

Accomplishing our mission requires us to expand into adjacent areas. Who in our field is doing strong work in those areas and are there potential opportunities to engage in a strategic collaboration with them that could grow our collective impact?

Featured organizations: 

  • Teaching Lab and Relay Graduate School of Education (educator professional learning and preparation; United States)

Open book with a lightbulb above it, representing ideas or learning

We are closing our operations and hold valuable knowledge, data, relationships, and tools. What do others in our field need and how might we preserve vital field-level resources and efficiently codify and share our assets in ways they will use and spread?

Featured organizations: 

  • Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development (prevention science and youth development; United States)

  • Full Frame Initiative (wellbeing; United States)

A dollar sign surrounded by interconnected circles, representing financial network or connections.

We want to fund progress on an issue that is bigger than we can accomplish with our financial assets, expertise, and relationships alone. How might we collaborate with other funders and intermediaries to build the field and more effectively resource progress on this issue?

Featured organizations:

  • Resource Equity Funders Collaborative (education; United States)

  • Agroecology Fund (agroecology; global)