The Importance of Framing for Foundations Engaging on Equity
It’s not always what you say, but how you say it. For foundations engaging in equity discussions, FSG’s John Harper talks about the importance of framing in a new blog post.
Over the past few years, FSG has been on a journey to bring a stronger equity focus to our work, both internally and externally. We have built, and continue to refine, an internal library of resources that support equity analysis with clients and partners. From disaggregating data that highlights disparities across demographic groups to sharing power with those most impacted by social challenges, we draw from the work of field leaders, partners, and friends. And we strive to apply these tools to each project.
We know, however, that analysis, pattern recognition, and insights on their own are insufficient. This analysis must be married with effective framing that builds buy-in and support across stakeholders, each likely at different stages on their own journey to understanding and embracing the concepts of equity. We are becoming intentional about how we pursue our analysis and insights and how we frame them. We are beginning to ask ourselves, our clients, and our partners, how do we frame this work to maintain the productive engagement that advances outcomes and results?
The answer to this nuanced question is that it varies.
