6-7+Draft+Funders+Guide

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Monitor Institute
 * CATALYZING SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: A FUNDER’S GUIDE **

=Table of Contents:=

Letter from the Network Weaver

Who this Guide is for and How it’s Organized

Introduction
Why do funders need to understand networks now? What can activating networks help funders do? Sidebar: What are social networks for social change?

Working with a Network Mindset
What does it mean to work with a network mindset? Why working with a network mindset is tough and critical? What are the challenges? How to get started working with a network mindset?

Supporting Networks
Why investing in networks is challenging and important? Sidebar: How do networks grow and change over time? How can foundations support networks? Sidebar: What roles can foundations play in networks? What should be considered when investing in social networks for social change?

Assessing and Learning about Network Impact
Why is it important to contribute to learning and evaluation in a network context and why does this require working in new ways? How to get started contributing to learning and impact assessment? Sidebar: Making the shift from a “logic model” view to a systems orientation

Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the relationship between networks and movements? What the difference between investing in networks and investing in field building? What’s the relationship between network theory, systems dynamics and complexity theory? How are decisions made in network context? What is known about effective network alignment and governance? When and how to use social network mapping and analysis? What is network weaving and how to support it? When weaving networks, what needs to be done in-person and what can be done online? How to integrate the online and in-person? How can I measure my foundation’s efforts to weave networks online? What are techniques for facilitating network interactions and “holding network space”? How do I get started using social media if I don’t have any time? What roles can foundations play in networks? What competencies do network leaders need? What skills and characteristics are needed to invest in catalyzing networks? What skills are needed to effectively contribute to learning and assess network impact? How do I convince others that working transparently and using social media adds value to my work as a program officer?

Appendix
Additional Resources Glossary of Terms Credits and Thanks Endnotes

Click here to see Funder's Guide Draft 5-17