Internal culture, external impact: How a change-making culture positions foundations to achieve transformational change

This article argues that a foundation’s internal culture is crucial for achieving large-scale social change, a factor often overlooked in strategic discussions. While there’s no singular ideal culture, foundations aiming for transformational impact must embody characteristics such as an outcomes focus, transparency, authenticity, collaboration, racial equity, inclusion, continuous learning, and openness to risk. The piece examines challenges in cultural change, offers case studies of successful transformations, and provides advice for foundations aspiring to cultivate a change-making culture for greater external impact.