Summary MRBF convened an insightful and compelling experience centered in grantees and the impact of their work. This learning journey had a number of illuminating moments on the context of their strategic direction, their 2024 Organizational Goals and their recommendations from their EJI experience last year. The observations from board and staff that partcipated and engaged the experience - in most cases, in a profound way, has offered up a series of lessons learned that are shared on the pages that follow in this report out. There are a number of questions and recommendations the board and staff might consider as they continue the purposeful movement of their work. Storytelling can be a critical capability and toolset for the full range of stakeholders - from board to staff to grantees. This learning experience surfaced a genuine interest in tools for this space as the rallied around the power of storytelling to advance their work. It would be well worth the time and effort of MRBF to mobilize around this opportunity and build it into their work. MRBF uniquely sits at the intersection of a number of moving parts in the American South that, with more recognition of that and thoughtful, intentional planning, can be a powerful accelerator of their work. Profiling grantee wins and shining a spotlight on their work with other grantees present while providing a learning experience for them to adapt and implement is a signficant opportunity. Bringing together these voices seemed to be a unique and heroic experience. Perhaps MRBF might aspire to make these types of group with added intention in learning common practice for their stakeholders. This learning journey experience is a unique additive in the philanthropy experience and presents the opportunity to make it a thoughtful, consistently managed (year-round) practice - complete with curriculums, learning objectives, stakeholder capability development, etc.
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