Seasons Fund for Social Transformation - christopher reardon

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“The social justice movement believes that the more we do, thebetter chance we have of winning. We over-identify with thedoing and fail to see what really needs doing.”—angel Kyodo williamsThese same principles of awareness, presence, and compassion hold tremendous promise for social changeorganizations. As people in leadership positions come to value these qualities, it becomes apparent howinternal systems and norms can drive success or failure in their work. Contemplative practices can transformthe way they run meetings, plan campaigns, set expectations, communicate with one another, understandpower dynamics, negotiate with adversaries, and evaluate programs. They may start to ask vital questionsabout core values and how to make them more explicit. They may introduce structured time for visioningand setting goals in a reflective atmosphere. They may explore ways to develop stronger working relationships,both internally and externally, across lines of difference. They may learn how to recognize—and deconstruct—the us-versus-them dynamic that undermines too many campaigns. As these ideas take root, the organizationitself becomes a kind of contemplative organism, one that is more capable of forging effective coalitions andcontributing to the renewal of movements for social change.In the last dozen years, several new centers have begun offering workshops, training, and advisory servicesdesigned to foster these skills among social change organizations. Among them are stonecircles (North Carolina), the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society(Massachusetts), Social Justice Leadership (New York), and theRockwood Leadership Program and the Movement StrategyCenter (both in California). Some of their teachings describeconventional ways to improve organizational managementand performance. But most go much deeper, helpingparticipants develop more effective ways of listening,communicating, building partnerships, and identifyingchallenges and opportunities in their field.Unfortunately, these institutions often lack theresources to provide the kind of assistance thatcommunity-based groups need to integrate suchpractices and skills into their work, and that’s wherethe Seasons Fund comes in.
Our missionThe Seasons Fund for Social Transformation invests in opportunities to couple the expansive power ofpersonal transformation with the public work of repairing societal ills in the United States.The Fund, a collaborative effort led by several private foundations, springs from a shared belief that cultivatinga rich inner life is both a worthy end in itself and an overlooked pathway to heightening the impact,effectiveness, and sustainability of social change initiatives. Together, we aim to raise at least $5 million tosupport those working for social, economic, and environmental justice to embrace a range of contemplativepractices that can deepen their capacity to lead.Our core valuesEach contributor to the Seasons Fund brings their own perspectives and priorities to the table, and we honorthese differences, but we also hold many essential values in common. We believe that reflection and inquiry—at the personal, institutional, communal, and societal levels—can open the door to insight, foster a profoundsense of possibility, and fuel concrete changes in our society. We also believe that actions born of hope andempathy, rather than unprocessed fear and anger, are more likely to achieve lasting equality, justice, andpeace.As our work together moves forward, we remain committed to these principles:How we work• recognizing our interdependence,• engaging in shared learning and reflection,• cultivating an atmosphere of love and joy, and• maintaining transparency, accountability, and trust.The Seasons Fund makes grants to help agents of social change view themselves, their work, and the worldaround them in a new light. Specifically, we support opportunities for reflection and training aimed atfostering personal transformation, building leadership skills, promoting organizational development, forgingeffective coalitions, and cultivating new ways of envisioning our society. We also support efforts to evaluatethe impact of contemplative practices on social change initiatives.
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Seasons Fund for Social Transformation - christopher reardon

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