Partnership
Stories
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Institutional Change
Equity-focused Foundations Work
01 Philanthropy
In addition to building internal capacity, Onward has partnered with foundations and philanthropies to design equity-focused strategies and organizational structures. Our partners include local and national funders, foundations, and thought leaders.
Together, we've resolved entrenched institutional inequities by re-designing hiring practices, reshaping culture, and reframing communications. -
Root Cause Analysis
02 Community-Based Organization
In collaboration with a large nonprofit partner, Onward conducted a thorough data audit and discovery process to identify the root causes of organizational inequities. Our insights clarified precise change management needs. As a result, we put forth a comprehensive needs assessment report and offered detailed recommendations for adaptive solutions.
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Human-Centered Design Pilots
03 School System Management
Sustainable change often requires fundamentally altering how people work. In one instance, we invited hundreds of employees to prototype interventions aimed at inequitable policies, systems, and structures. Pilots included proximity visits to communities served by the organization, a curriculum for building coalitions, and allocating funds to address intergenerational poverty and dismantle stigma. Such projects build empathy and capacity to design solutions with—not just for—communities served.
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Change Management & Leadership
04 Consulting Firm
Onward partners with leadership teams to radically shift organizational cultures. Change management requires balancing both systemic and interpersonal forces. In supporting new CEOs, for instance, we develop their equity lens using 360 leadership assessments to collect data, develop change-management plans with clearly articulated goals and priorities, and deliver individual coaching sessions.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
Frederick Douglass