Understanding the Implications of Our Stories.
You may wonder about the origins of the stories featured on this site. Many are drawn from my own experiences over five years, dedicated almost exclusively to providing capacity support for social impact infrastructure organizations (SIIOs). I am pleased to share that the outcomes have far exceeded my expectations, suggesting that even small to modest grants can drive big results.
What Are SIIOs?
Social Impact Infrastructure Organizations (SIIOs) are the connectors, conveners, accelerators, trainers, educators, researchers, and platforms that enable the rest of us to impact change effectively.
SIIOs are the backbone organizations that broadly and directly support the social sector. They take many forms, such as membership organizations, platforms, media outlets, research institutes, and movements. They play a crucial role in enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of countless organizations, making them key drivers of large-scale social change.
Opportunities and Challenges in Achieving Big and Broad Impact
While the potential for achieving a big and broad impact by supporting SIIOs is immense, this approach comes with its own set of risks and challenges. Here are a few considerations:
- Overcoming Internal Resistance
Embracing a funding approach that diverges from traditional methods can be challenging. Instead of focusing on specific causes, my approach seeks out catalytic opportunities that offer a big and broad impact. For example, rather than supporting a single charity, I chose to back TechSoup, an organization that enhances the capacity of hundreds of thousands of nonprofits across 236 countries. In turn, these nonprofits work on advancing social equity, combating climate change, protecting democracy, and more.
Traditional giving often allows for straightforward measurement—how many students enrolled, how many children received medical care, and so on. However, the stories on this site reflect a different kind of impact: the ability to significantly alter the trajectory of organizations that are already making promising strides. My goal has been to amplify the impact of these organizations with leveraged funding, but the ability to clearly measure cause and effect varies. In some cases, the impact is clear, such as a $100k grant that enabled an organization to generate $1.4 million in revenue. In others, the ability to draw cause-and-effect relationships varies considerably.
- Mitigating Risks and Maximizing Returns
Under the right circumstances, the impact one can achieve by engaging in big and broad approaches is extensive, but so too are the varying levels of risk. Consider the following:
- While not all my grants led to the desired result, the benefits far outweighed those that fell short of expectations.
- You can often choose low-risk opportunities by selecting favorable organizations and circumstances.
- Engaging in matching grants, responding to them, or participating in pooled funding are effective strategies. These mechanisms have allowed me to save hundreds of thousands of dollars while maximizing impact.
Social Proof Exists
Supporting SIIOs and pursuing big and broad impact isn’t a new concept—funders have been doing so since the establishment of the Council on Foundations in 1948. In some instances, these efforts have produced remarkable, long-lasting results. Consider the Foundation Center Directory, which has helped countless nonprofits survive and thrive since 1960. Although there’s been limited discussion on this topic, Propel Philanthropy is committed to highlighting many such examples.
Supportive Environments for Funders
If the idea of adopting this funding strategy feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. One of the biggest challenges with any new approach is ensuring that funders receive the support they need. Fortunately, there are several avenues available if you wish to explore how this approach could lead to achieving extensive impact with your grantmaking:
- Philea offers a funders group focused on social impact infrastructure for those based in European countries.
- The Worldwide Initiative for Grantmaker Support (WINGS)maintains a Funders Working Group dedicated to fostering thriving philanthropic ecosystems.
- Propel Philanthropy hosts a funder-to-funder group aimed at helping participants achieve outsized impact.
Propel Philanthropy also provides free facilitation services to assist funders interested in exploring approaches for achieving big and broad impact.