Relationship Building and Collective Strategizing

A core component of the Dream Fund was making best use of the learning that arises through extensive, two-way communications between donors and grantees. This learning helped both groups better respond to the field and to each other's needs and interests.

The Dream Fund's learning component comprised activities and products designed to strengthen and increase the visibility of the race and gender-equity field:

• Convenings and Trainings: The Dream Fund made a significant investment in promoting learning within the field, primarily through convenings and trainings that were informed by the grantees' needs. Between 2007 and 2009, the Dream Fund organized three two-day convenings of its national and regional grantees and funders. These meetings allowed a diverse set of organizations to come together, learn about each other's work, build skills, share best practices in communications and organizing, and identify strategic opportunities to collaborate. The Convenings played an important role in helping to connect regional groups with national organizations and networks, allowing racial and gender justice advocates to work together more effectively as part of a larger movement. Learn more about each of the Dream Fund's Convenings and for resources, presentations and video clips. In between convenings, the Dream Fund offered training and policy updates through conference calls and webinars. In 2008, at the height of challenges to equal opportunity across the country, the Dream Fund sponsored ten events that included messaging and communications trainings, discussions of proposed anti-affirmative action measures and their potential impact, strategies for addressing racial and gender barriers in specific sectors, and updates on policy and field developments.

• Connecting Grantees and Other Stakeholders to Build Coalitions and Networks: Throughout the lifetime of the Fund, PIP staff identified grantees with similar interests and helped them connect strategically to advance their shared goals. For example, the Dream Fund supported the formation of the Race-Conscious Framing Working Group, which emerged out of the efforts by Dream Fund grantees to preserve affirmative action at the state level in 2008. The Working Group, consisting of national and regional advocacy organizations, shares information, research, strategies and communications tools to support affirmative action and racial justice advocacy. Learn more about the Race-Conscious Framing Working Group.

• Commissioning Research to Promote Learning Within the Philanthropic Community: The Dream Fund also has provided a table for affirmative action and racial justice funders to discuss strategies for effective grantmaking and field building. To help facilitate discussions and decision-making, the Dream Fund commissioned studies to help funders understand developments in the field and to respond effectively.  For access to studies, commissioned by the Dream Fund, please visit the Knowledge Center.