April+5-6+Design+Old+Version

Design principles:

 * Shared leadership – distributed across CoP participants
 * Peer-to-peer – some delivered content to stimulate but mostly peer-to-peer conversation
 * Space to address outstanding questions
 * Take time to develop tools //and// look at the big picture. Balance of developing tools and practical advice with humility; there may not be easy answers.

Draft Agenda:
**__Participants__:** Core CoP members, Beth Kanter, Roberto Cremonini, June Holley

**__Pre-read / inputs__:**
 * **CoP member case studies.** We (Diana and Jessica) are going to be reaching out to CoP members in the coming month for conversations about your cases of network-centric grantmaking in action. We’ll then be writing up draft cases as input to our conversation in April and as potential draft content for the Funder’s Guide.
 * Knight Foundation / Monitor Institute report "Connected Citizens:The Promise, Peril and Power of Networks" -- including section on implications for grantmakers.

April 5th
__Framework for capturing insights and tools__: we’ll be talking a lot about the practice of network-centric grantmaking. Rafael Lopez suggested putting forth a framework for capturing insights throughout our conversation. One possibility is to use the network lifecycle model: start/grow the network, weave/expand, exit/ transition. Another possibility would be to organize insights around the type of network work: catalyzing and supporting networks, our own behavior / working with a network mindset, sharing and supporting learning

**8:30AM Breakfast**

**9AM-noon Working Sessions**


 * __Reconnecting the community & setting the agenda__ for our work over the 2 days (~1 hr)


 * __Making connections across our work__. Drawing on the preread / mini case studies, a conversation about emerging practices for network-centric grantmaking (~1 hr)


 * __So what? How do we act in ways that are bigger than ourselves?__ A conversation about //why// we care about networks (~1 hr) Katherine Fulton to facilitate. Questions we might address: what are the things we can't do our own? In what ways are we all naturally acting ways that are bigger than ourselves? How are we (intentionally or not) work through networks? What are the signs that these approaches are working - or not? When you're supporting a network, what makes you want to renew the grant?
 * how do we get key leaders in the community/state more aware and engaged in doing “the work”/”common agenda collectively. Another that I have mentioned before is how do we capture and share lessons learned within this community. I am also intrigued in some of the pts raised in the La Piana article and how they fit in to our network agenda-ie cross sector changes/blurring, the leadership transition and how youth are more adapted to this approach-ie not as organizational centric. Finally I think Roberto’s pt about remembering the grantees/nps! (warren)
 * Draw on Nancy White's work on learning from adjacent fields - http://onlinefacilitation.wikispaces.com/Triangulating+for+Professional+Development

**12:30-1:15PM Lunch**

**1:15-5PM World Cafe conversations** ** [opportunity for CoP co-leadership] **

During this segment we’d like to go deep on questions you’ve been asking about network-centric grantmaking. Here’s how it could work: CoP participants volunteer to lead a conversation. Monitor is available to help frame that conversation and gather ideas to seed the conversation. You also may want to bring along a colleague, consultant, grantee to take part and help set up the conversation (see above)

If there are 6 or more topics that folks want to dig into, we can do two ‘Worlds Cafes’ with two rounds each. Here's how it could flow:
 * 3 simultaneous conversations on topics A,B, and C. Participants self-select, and there is a CoP host for each. Then a second round of those same conversations. The person who is hosting the conversation stays at the same table, and others cycle to another table. The host is the thread between the two conversations.
 * Then, a second Word Cafe. 3 different simultaneous conversations on topics D,E, and F led by three different CoP hosts.

// This will be a good forum for sharing cases. Try to root the World Cafe conversations in a specific case if at possible. // // Possible topics: // // Other topics that might be good for a World Cafe format: //
 * This is what Program Officer Arron Jiron and I would rather do than Exit strategies. "Taking Risks with Networks" Two stories of how a network approach enhanced the ability to set ambitious goals and what factors influenced success and failure. (relationship between purpose, planning, governance, accountability) These two netwroks are California based and are working on out of school time. We would like to also like to invite Cheryl Rogers who was a funder at Haas Fnd at the time. Now a consultant. (Stephanie McAuliffe). Fantastic! (Diana )
 * How to build network weaving capacity? What are the different models?
 * How to nurture sustainable networks?
 * How to build systems for ongoing network learning and adaptation?
 * Catalyzing //very// large scale networks
 * Governance and managing across difference in power and capacity in network participants / members (Open to leading a conversation about these issues -Marie) Engage TechSoup Global
 * Bringing an ROI frame to talking about network impact
 * Insights from complexity theory for assessing network impact
 * How to support NGO leaders who want to work with a network mindset but run into obstacles – like their board? Beth could be involved in this - in conversation with a couple of local NGO leaders, possibly LLC, EDF
 * How to create an environments that encourage and celebrate working with a network mindset within foundations? And, how to overcome obstacles, like strict communications protocol? (Interested in leading a conversation about this set of issues -Marie) I'd love to participate/facilitate on this topic as well--Kathy
 * What else??
 * Measuring the strength of our networks, how they change over time, what theory of change to develop, what longer term outcomes might be achieved through networks, etc. (gibbons)
 * How to support networks of individuals and foster citizen engagement? Share, discuss, improve recommendations for funders from Knight Foundation report "Connected Citizens (Diana)

**6-8PM Dinner and discussion**


 * Inspirational stories of the power of networks. Perspectives from several local leaders facilitated by Beth Kanter, including [|Annie Leonard / Story of Stuff], [|TechSoup Global], and possibly [|Deborah Mehan] / LLC**
 * April 6th**

**8AM Breakfast**

**9AM-noon Working Sessions**


 * __Opening inspiration:__ story of network weaving from Jordan, Rami Al Carmai, Shak Raba (~10-15 min)


 * __Overnight thoughts__. An open conversation about new connections people are making, patterns emerging, insights surfaced, questions coming up. (~1 hr)


 * __Open space__. This will be an opportunity to dig into the open questions that participants have – issues /challenges / opportunities raised on day one and in your work. Lots of opportunities for distributing leadership here, but no need to prep in advance. This could also be a space for peer assists. (~2 hrs)
 * Could this include an opportunity to work on a theory of change for those of us from the evaluation side of things? Maybe this could continue the discussion from the March 8th discussion and materials? (gibbons)

**12-12:45PM Lunch**

**12:45-3PM Working Sessions**


 * __ Creating shared language and talking about networks and network impact __. How do you talk about network approaches in ways that will be meaningful to your colleagues? How to translate this stuff for other stakeholders – whether grantees, trustees, etc? We've spoken many times about the need for clear jargon-free language to talk about network work. Let's do some work on that. [|Holly Minch], a creative and experienced communications professional will share tools and approaches for helping us talk about networks. Then we'll experiment with putting it into practice. (~90 min)


 * __Consolidating our learning__. What are you taking away? What are your questions / concerns? Ongoing tension to manage in this work? Top tools – what have you tried? What do you love? What do you want to try? Important insights? What recommendations would you offer others beginning to experiment with networks and working with a network mindset?

**3PM Adjourn**

**Click here to see initial list of design ideas discussed with the Steering Committee**