Reflective Practices

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Reflective Practices

How Can I Be 1% More?

February 2017 | The Giving Practice

In a conversation for Philanthropy's Reflective Practices, The Giving Practice's Sindhu Knotz and Jan Jaffe caught up with June Wilson, board member and executive director emeritus of Quixote Foundation, to learn about her reflective practices and the foundation’s application of reflective practices to racial equity work. "For me, it’s a way of reaching farther when I feel like I’ve hit a limit," she explains "If I can start by finding even 1% more patience, presence, love, imagination, I can break through that barrier."

Stepping Back to See More Clearly

January 2017 | The Giving Practice

The Giving Practice's Jan Jaffe spoke with Ryan Chao, Annie E. Casey Foundation vice president, about developing and using philanthropy's reflective practices individually and in teams. "Our team is organized to effect change for people and place in education, workforce and housing," he explains. "That means we are philanthropy practitioners with very diverse backgrounds working together and working with partners in the community with very diverse backgrounds. Perhaps because of this very multidisciplinary approach, we have to be able to question each other’s answers in order to fine tune our collaborative effort. We’re using three reflective practices to help the team share and problem solve with each other."

Systems Thinking: How You Show Up Matters

January 2017 | The Giving Practice

In an interview for Philanthropy's Reflective Practices, Jan Jaffe spoke with Katie Hong, a Raikes Foundation director focused on youth and young adult homelessness, about systems thinking. "I am passionate about the topic of reflective practice because I believe in the power of “self” as a tool and this is critical to having impact in the world," she responds. "I’ve been in different roles in the government sector and in the private philanthropic sector always working with others to drive change. I deploy a couple of practices that help me on a daily basis."

The Creative Tension of Intention

December 2016 | The Giving Practice

Many years ago, I learned the concept of “Structural Tension” from Robert Fritz, one of the founders of Innovation Associates along...

A Pop Princess Helped My Foundation Articulate Our Values

October 2016 | The Giving Practice

What would you say if I told you Katy Perry helped me facilitate my most recent foundation board meeting? Not impressed? Perhaps you’re more of a Taylor Swift fan. Honestly, I’m #TeamTaylor too, but Katy felt more appropriate for my board at this time.

Why? Let me take a few steps back...

Philanthropists in a Hurry: The Risks of Unhealthy Boundaries and the Rush to Results (Part 2)

October 2016 | The Giving Practice

In the first part of this series, we discussed some of the rookie mistakes my team and I made when we started working to end family homelessness in the Pacific Northwest. Our impatience for impact led us to skip some of the vital relationship building and buy-in processes vital to achieving our...

Embracing the Practice of Presence

June 2016 | The Giving Practice

Before beginning my career in philanthropy, I spent several years completing a master’s degree in divinity and training to become an interfaith hospital chaplain. Contrary to the images that might come to mind—solemn priests giving last rites or quoting scripture at the bedside, for instance—at...