Meetings

August 22-24 at Commonweal in Bolinas,  California

This gathering, convened at the spectacularly beautiful Commonweal Retreat Center overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Northern California, served as a visioning and strategic planning meeting for the Wisdom Funders’ Network. The 2 day retreat-like gathering of 21 people (see picture and participant list below) was attended by a mix of individual donors, foundation staff, donor organizers and non-profit leaders. All invitees shared a common commitment to the transformation of ourselves and society through different spiritual, organizational, and social change practices.

The invitation letter to the event summarized the focus of the event as follows:

“We are currently facing an opportune moment and growth spurt for the contemplative and social change movements. There’s now widespread adoption within the mainstream of inner and relational practices for change.  New philanthropic and impact investment monies have begun to come into the field from the Silicon Valley and elsewhere.  Is this just a temporary trend or bubble, or is it just the beginning of something much larger and more potent?  Will these new resources be directed toward deeper societal impact and transformation or remain on the surface as mere stress reduction for the privileged? Can these trends be influenced, and if so, where are those who will provide direction and leadership?”

Clockwise from top left: Marty Krasney, Michael Lerner, Akaya Windwood, Orland Bishop, Tracy Gary, Birju Pandya, Robyn Brentano, Alan Zulch, Alice Warner-Mehlhorn, Frank Phoenix, Pamela Krasney, Adam Cummings, Alissa Hauser, Mirabai Bush, Tesa Silvestre, Tom Callanan, Michele Robbins, Tara Brown, Ari Nessel, Jaune Evans

After much reflection and dialogue, the group came to many points of agreement. Among them:

• A growth spurt is indeed happening within the “contemplative movement.”
• The most dramatic growth is happening within the business and technology sectors as evidenced by conferences such as Wisdom 2.0, where the focus is largely on using wisdom practices for stress reduction and performance enhancement.
• An important element of the movement is the understanding that contemplation and mindfulness are not just personal growth techniques, but also ways of knowing and being that create greater understanding of the interconnectedness of all things that ultimately connects personal growth with social action.
• Philanthropy can play an important role in this movement by broadening the movement’s spread to the non-profit sectors and to less privileged communities and by focusing on the social change and social action dimensions of contemplative practice.
• As the philanthropic and non-profit sectors continue to sharpen their focus on strategic planning, outcome measures, evaluation criteria etc., so too there’s an urgent need for places (such as was experienced at this retreat) for engaging wisdom and insight though reflection, authentic dialogue, and relationship building.
• This desire for authentic connection and interaction across sector seemed particularly strong and necessary given the natural propensity of the philanthropic sector toward isolation which is only heightened by the speed and transaction orientation fostered by new information and communication technologies.
• It was noted that we live in a time of generational apartheid where interaction and mentorship across generations is severely limited.

The Wisdom Funders’ Network is being created in response to the above challenges and opportunities.  We’re imagining a 3-5 year series of retreats and gatherings similar to the Commonweal event where cross-sector and cross-generational relationships and partnerships can be established, personal and collective practice and inquiry deepened, and collective wisdom, insight and action developed.

The Wisdom Funders’ Network is grateful for the generous support of all event participants as well as to Angeles Arrien, Marion Weber and The Fetzer Institute for their additional support. Thank you!

Attendee List
1. Orland Bishop, Shade Tree
2. Robyn Brentano, Garrison Institute
3. Tara Brown, Hidden Leaf Foundation
4. Mirabai Bush, Center for Contemplative Mind
5. Tom Callanan, Wisdom Funders’ Network
6. Adam Cummings, Nathan Cummings Foundation
7. Jaune Evans, Tamalpais Trust
8. Tracy Gary, Unleashing Generosity
9. Alissa Hauser, Pollination Project
10. Pamela Krasney, Individual Donor
11. Marty Krasney, Dalai Lama Fellows
12. Michael Lerner, Jennifer Altman Foundation
13. Ari Nessel, Pollination Project
14. Birju Pandya, Armonia and RSF
15. Frank Phoenix, Fenwick Foundation
16. Michele Robbins, YES!
17. Marion R. Weber, Flow Fund
18. Tesa Silvestre, Aya’s Rivers
19. Alice Warner-Mehlhorn, Kellogg Foundation
20. Akaya Windwood, Rockwood Leadership Institute
21. Alan Zulch, Kalliopeia Foundation