Emergent strategy is one of the new buzzwords in philanthropy. Not surprisingly, emergent strategy is a lot easier to imagine than to support and implement. When we talk about emergent strategy in philanthropy, often we’re talking about setting the conditions for an ecosystem of organizations and individuals with agency to…

This brief overview of emergent strategy is intended as a short primer for those interested in beginning to explore the concept, with particular attention to the philanthropic strategy context. It is NOT a complete and thorough review of the concept, nor does it represent the full range of voices and…

For all you evaluators out there, I’m here today to challenge your thinking. Let’s begin with a basic question: What is a theory of change (TOC)? At its core, it’s a prediction about the future, and typically about a specific future where interventions result in outcomes, ultimately leading to a…