Inclusive Goals, Priorities, Decisions

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) is a coalition of more than 500 grantmakers committed to building strong and effective nonprofit organizations. GEO is partnering with IISC to develop and pilot a customized training for GEO members that focuses on strategies funders can embrace in becoming more inclusive of grantees and other stakeholders when setting goals, determining priorities, and making funding decisions. GEO also partnered with IISC on The Change Agent Project, a national initiative that gathered information about the barriers that prevent grantmakers from optimizing support of their grantees as well as identified grantee-centric innovators in the field of philanthropy.


  • I was at NESAWG [Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group] this weekend and happened to attend both of your workshops: Making the Invisible Visible and Theory of Change. You are someone who really stuck out to me at the Conference because of how passionate and articulate you are and I just wanted to say Thank You! 

    The questions posed and the “levels of systematic oppression” diagram in the first workshop were illuminating in terms of my personal understanding of how I move through society and by providing a common framework for identifying racial inequities at play. I really resonated with your call to “normalize the discussion about race and inequity” because simply going there still feels taboo in many spaces. 

    I just looked over the Interaction Institute for Social Change website and am even more inspired. I am new to Boston and was so energized this weekend to learn about the active, creative and diverse organizations in the area. I hope to find an opportunity to interact with your organization again in the future. Thank you for the work you do! 

    Tessa Salzman
    Master's Student in Urban Planning & Policy and Agriculture, Food & Environment, Tufts University, School of Arts & Sciences and Friedman School

  • [Lawrence] jumped right in with enthusiastic guidance and recommendations on platforms and modes of engagement that were both affirming and energizing!

    Karen Spiller
    Food Solution New England