Funding Systems Change : Challenges and Opportunities

Many foundations across the world are increasingly interested in systems change. In the framewor of the SIX Funders Node's activities, 22 foundations and systems change experts have been brought together in September 2016 for a retreat on Wasan Island, in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. Despite coming from different countries and focus areas, the participants were united in their curiosity and desire to create systemic impact. While the retreat drew on global thinking and case studies, it was rooted in practice and provided a unique and focused opportunity for foundations working on systems change, or moving towards systems chance. The purpose of this report is to highlight the learning from that retreat; and to help nurture the emerging community of foundations working in systems change by codifying and sharing examples and practices from the pioneers and early adopters of this approach.