Our Theory
of Change
Change doesn’t just happen. It takes alignment of the right partners and the provision of the right resources to transform lofty goals into tangible change.
GoPhilanthropic Foundation believes that long-term, sustainable social change occurs when community-based organizations obtain the resources they need to execute their missions and when donors are educated on the full impact of their giving. By connecting donors interested in education, health, and human rights with community-based organizations, we can create a shared responsibility capable of driving change at the local level.
The Theory of Change framework is a widely used model for showing how various partners, resources and processes must play out to achieve an organization’s global vision. In our Theory of Change, we show how donors, community-led organizations, and their leaders collaborate with us to drive outcomes and create lasting, sustainable change.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE, EXPLAINED
OUR PROBLEM STATEMENTS
Nonprofit organizations use problem statements to define the situation or challenges they aim to address through their Theory of Change. Here at GoPhilanthropic Foundation, we know that:
- Marginalized communities across the world struggle to access quality healthcare, education, and human rights.
- Community-based organizations are best placed to be the “first responders” in these communities yet receive just 2% of global aid.
- Many community-based organizations are working in isolation, with leaders who feel alone and unable to share their challenges with others.
- Community-based organizations struggle to access funding for the core operational costs needed for them to become sustainable.
- Many donors want to do more than just write a check, but are afforded few opportunities to learn and become more active in the philanthropic initiatives, issues, and countries that most interest them.
- Traditional power dynamics and imbalances between donors and grantees are harmful and ineffective in achieving positive social change.
OUR VALUES
The values we hold as an organization influence our inputs to the Theory of Change, and how we work to create positive, sustainable outcomes. We believe…
- Sustainable impact is not made in isolation.
- Those closest to the problems understand the issues more deeply.
- People and communities are strongest when they do for themselves.
- “Listening and Learning” is more effective than “Serving and Solving.”
- Partner organizations are “leading change” as opposed to “receiving help”.
- In transparency and the power of trust-based philanthropy.
- In promoting equity and honoring diversity in all our relationships.
- That creating purposeful networks of donors and partners has great power in creating change.
GOPHILANTHROPIC INPUTS
Inputs in a Theory of Change represent the resources, funding, and efforts available to support an organization’s target groups and start the process of change. Here at GoPhilanthropic Foundation, those include:
- Flexible grants for partner-identified needs.
- Supporting partners to diversify their funding opportunities.
- Facilitating cross-learning and networking opportunities.
- Identifying effective community-based organizations.
- Training, capacity building and advisory support for community-based organizations and their leadership.
- Creating spaces for donor engagement and learning.
- Connecting donors to organizations to meet their philanthropic goals.
IMPACT & VISION
The Impact section represents the long-term change expected to occur as those outcomes multiply. This may take several years to come to fruition, but it ultimately serves as a guiding vision for all of the efforts leading toward it.
Here at GoPhilanthropic Foundation, the impact of our Theory of Change aligns closely with our organizational vision:
A more just and equitable world, where community-led organizations have the power and resources to create positive social change.