Join Grantmakers for Effective Organizations in partnership with the Northern California Grantmakers for a culture workshop designed for mid- to senior-level leaders who are looking to shift their organization’s culture to better align with their mission and values.
Across philanthropy, staff are navigating complex challenges. A strong, intentional culture helps organizations stay grounded in their purpose even amid uncertainty. Organizational culture shapes how effective grantmaking is—and whether an organization can live its values and fulfill its mission. In today’s environment of rapid change, culture can be either a catalyst for change or a quiet barrier to impact.
This interactive workshop is designed for grantmakers seeking to understand, assess, and evolve their organizational culture to better align with their mission and values. Through reflection, assessment tools, and peer learning, participants will explore the connection between culture, mission, and impact and walk away with practical steps to strengthen alignment between values and behaviors.
In moments of uncertainty and pressure, culture becomes a deciding factor in whether organizations can act with courage, sustain equity commitments, and work collaboratively toward their mission. Intentional culture practice ensures values are lived—not just written—and strengthens long-term impact.
Participants will leave with greater clarity, stronger tools for reflection and assessment, actionable next steps for aligning grantmaking strategy and practices with community-driven philanthropic values, and new ideas they can adapt from peers working across different contexts.
Key Learning Objectives
- Understand GEO’s culture framework and assess your organization’s cultural positioning.
- Gain tools to assess and strengthen alignment between stated values and actual behaviors.
- Identify strengths and challenges in shifting organizational culture toward equity.
- Develop actionable next steps to align culture with strategic goals and mission.
- Engage in peer learning and practice exchange to explore how colleagues are navigating culture change, and identify strategies participants can adapt to strengthen alignment between values, behaviors, and mission.