Wisdom Funders’ Network Event, February 23, 2013
The first gathering of the Funders’ Network was convened on Saturday February 23, 2013 at Source Restaurant in San Francisco.
The funder’s luncheon, which took place during a break at the Wisdom 2.0 conference and was sponsored by the Whitman Institute, was fully subscribed with 30 participants (see list below) from 21 foundations. “Our primary aim,” said the meeting invitation, “ is to build relationships between funders who are actively supporting projects at the intersection of contemplative practice, technology, social change, science and health.
Counterclockwise from bottom right corner: Michael Lerner, Commonweal, Gillian Gonda (speaking) from the Fetzer Institute, Scott Kriens, 1440 Foundation, Pat Christen, Hope Lab, Angela Jones, Northern California Grantmakers, Susan Phillips, Omidyar Network, Alan Zulch, Kalliopeia Foundation.
We’ll provide a contemplative space for invitees to reflect and share about which aspects of this rich intersection most draw their attention and energy at this time. We’ll also explore how the conversations and community developing around Wisdom 2.0 are expanding our respective sense of what is possible, individually and collectively, and how that could inspire our philanthropic approach and decisions in new directions.”
The meeting opened with introductory comments by Tom Callanan, Pat Christen from Hope Lab, and Rich Fernandez from Google, and then moved quickly to group dialogue. Many of the comments centered around the idea of creating a new kind of funders network including the following:
Left to right: Meng Tan of Google, Dinabandhu Sarley of 1440 Foundation and Frank Phoenix of Fenwick Foundation
“We recognize how important relationships are in precipitating change, and yet there are very few structures in place that enable trusting relationships to develop… How do we measure the impact of relationships? Until we explicitly value relationship, they will continue to be under resourced. Part of the value of this kind of network is that it can provide a space for donors to reflect on their work and build trusting relationships.” ~ John Esterle, Whitman Institute
15 years ago there was no funder’s group at the intersection of health and environmental action. Today, as a result of the Health and Environment Funders Network, 100 million dollars is invested in the field every year. The network has created a supply chain that is driving the entire field. I can see how the Wisdom Funders’ network can at least replicate what was done in that field, especially with all the desire expressed here from within the traditional philanthropic world and among the progressive community.”
~ Michael Lerner, Commonweal and Jennifer Altman Foundation
Clockwise from left corner: Birju Pandya, Armonia, Lisa Parker, Lawrence Welk Foundation. Jee Kim, Ford Foundation, Jim Phoenix, Fenwick Foundation, Marcus Perman, Tsadra Foundation.
“Our job at this stage in our history is to change our culture and change ourselves at the same time. How do we do this? Mindfulness is a good place to start.”
~ Frank Phoenix, Fenwick Foundation
“It’s been amazing to watch the contemplative field develop to where we are now with Wisdom 2.0. We look at what took place 30 years ago, with a relatively small group of people: Jack Kornfield, Jon Kabat Zinn, etc.. They went to school together. They were part of a tribe together… The strongest networks and movements are those that are built through personal relationships and friendships which can even be found online in sites like chatempanada.com.”
~ Arthur Zajonc, Mind and Life Institute
Left to right: Rich Fernandez, Google, Arthur Zajonc, Mind and Life Institute, Peter Bauman, Bauman Foundation.
Pat Christen from Hope Lab offered the following John O’Donohue poem as a blessing for the Wisdom Funders’ Network:
For a New Beginning
by John O’Donohue
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
Attendance List
1. Peter Baumann, Baumann Foundation
2. Magalie Bonneau-Marcil, Dancing Without Borders
3. Tara Brown, Hidden Leaf Bridge
4. Scott Beck, Builders Fund
5. Tom Callanan, Wisdom Funders’ Network
6. Pat Christen, Hope Lab and Omidyar Network
7. John Esterle, Whitman Institute
8. Rich Fernandez, Google
9. Ellen Friedman, Compton Foundation
10. Gillian Gonda, Fetzer Institute
11. Alissa Hauser, Pollination Project
12. Angela Jones, Northern California Grantmakers
13. Jee Kim, Ford Foundation
14. Scott Kriens, 1440 Foundation
15. Michael Lerner, Jenifer Altman Foundation
16. Birju Pandya, Armonia and Charity Focus
17. Lisa Parker, Lawrence Welk Foundation
18. Marcus Perman, Tsadra Foundation
19. Susan Phillips, Omidyar Network
20. Frank Phoenix, Fenwick Foundation
21. Jim Phoenix, Fenwick Foundation
22. Michele Robbins, YES!
23. Dinabandhu Sarley, 1440 Foundation
24. Cory Smith, HUB San Francisco
25. Meng Tan, Google
26. Cari Tuna, Good Ventures
27. Jeff Walker, Bridge Builders Fund
28. Linda Wood, Haas Jr. Fund
29. Arthur Zajonc, Mind and Life Institute
30. Ru-Jun Zhou, Hemera Foundation
31. Alan Zulch, Kalliopeia Foundation
