Bess Rothenberg in Chronicle of Philanthropy: How grant makers can see the future more clearly

In this Chronicle of Philanthropy op-ed, Bess Rothenberg, Senior director of strategy and learning, argues that our (confirmation) biases in social justice work may be keeping us from unlocking the outcomes we want. She writes that our convictions about what should happen are often so strong that they prevent us from planning for what actually does happen. Using recent examples including current events in Sudan, the piece offers several lessons for how grant makers can challenge their assumptions and get better outcomes for their work.

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The Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.