Forward Global is a global community of 400+ philanthropic funders united by their commitment to learning, collaboration and unlocking resources for positive social change.

Essentials programs introduce the Strategic Roadmap, covering the core principles and practices that Forward Global believes are critical for all philanthropic funders. They are designed to help participants make the most of other opportunities across the global community and provide an excellent opportunity to make new connections and clarify your sense of direction moving forward.

This 1.5 day in-person Essentials program will be held in Atlanta, GA on October 19 & 20, on the days before the Immersion Journey. We will cover questions including:

What are the core principles I should consider in my funding practice?
How can I find my philanthropic focus?
How can I develop a strategy for systemic change?
How can I find grantees and build trusted relationships?
How can I think about impact measurement and learn and grow as a funder?

We will use case studies, personal reflection, partner work, and interactive activity to help explore these questions as a group. 

What is the purpose of the Essentials, and who should join?

The Essentials provides an overview into the culture, language, and core principles and practices that hold the Forward Global community together. As such, it is mandatory for new Forward Global members, as a crucial part of onboarding into the community.

We also recommend that Forward Global members revisit the Essentials every 3-5 years, in order to revisit your role and stay up to date with the latest in social innovation.

What does (and doesn’t) the Essentials cover?

By “Essentials” we mean – the worldviews, assumptions about your role, and decisions of where to focus resources that influence all of your decision-making. It is not a deep dive into operations or a 101 in how to make your first grant. Participants looking for a deeper dive and more technical support will be offered support outside of the main program.

The Essentials will be divided into four parts (see below.) A more detailed agenda will be shared with you after registration.

Part 1: Core Principles & Articulating Your Purpose
Part 2: The Contribution You Can Make
Part 3: Systems Mapping & Strategy Development
Part 4: Building Partnerships & Taking Action

What comes after the Essentials?

Essentials participants are encouraged to continue their journey with Forward Global as part of a full Cohort. Previous participants have commented:

“The whole process of having a peer group does a lot for personal accountability – it pushes us not to stagnate.”

“There is so much I’ve gained from the Cohort – just having people to engage with has been terrific. One word that I’m taking away from this is joy – the joy of the process. There is so much in my life that feels burdensome, so to sustain me this work has to be joyful.”

“I realised I’ve been thinking too narrowly about things, about by resources, my impact. I’ve been boxing myself in necessarily. A big takeaway for me has been the need to challenge myself to broaden my thinking, to recognise more broadly what I can do and where.”

“I really loved the entire process of talking to my new peers; we learn stuff through TPW and then put it into practice by talking to your peers who are actually doing it.”

“Super useful, loved the whole thing.”

When should I register, and where can I learn more?

Places are limited, so please register early to avoid disappointment. For any questions, please reach out to Global Director of Programmes, Sam Underwood at sam@forward-global.org.

This program will run October 19 & 20, 2024. We will begin the program Saturday early afternoon and close Sunday late afternoon with exact timing & locations to be confirmed.

Registration is now closed. For any questions, please reach out to Global Director of Programmes, Sam Underwood at sam@forward-global.org.