The Roots — Humility, Passion, Curiosity & Patience
Embracing these Catalytic Virtues of humility, passion, curiosity, and patience propels funders to move from grantmakers to changemakers. These virtues enable catalytic funders to become dynamic agents of progress, break down power imbalances, weave networks, break through barriers, and invite new voices to the decision table.
"These are not just virtues but practices — they remove both the pressure and the power dynamic of a funder showing up as the "expert" who is prescribing a specific intervention or outcome. These practices keep me rooted in a learning mindset, keep the lines of communication open with grantee partners, and ensure that I never just sit back and coast on the philanthropic practices that are easy."
— Jennie Riley, Executive Director, Rx FoundationWe encourage you to reflect on how the catalytic leadership virtues show up in your own work:
Humility is the bedrock of Catalytic Leadership. Recognizing one's limitations and acknowledging the expertise of others lays the foundation for successful philanthropy. Ask yourself:
Leaders have the belief or conviction that we have to be better and that things need to be better. Leadership is taking ownership of problems, feeling, and taking responsibility. Ask yourself:
Leaders ask questions, take in lots of input and information, and create space for ideas and creativity. They are driven to engage people and invite participation. Curiosity can lead to learning, insight, and innovation when you take the initiative and be intentional about learning from people. Ask yourself:
In the fast-paced world of philanthropy, patience is a virtue that cannot be overstated. Catalytic Leaders recognize that true, lasting change takes time. The problems funders are working to address have been issues for decades, if not centuries. Ask yourself:
"It's one thing to embrace the virtues and challenges of being humble, asking curious questions, and being patient. But walking the walk is another thing completely. I have to resist wanting to be the "smartest person in the room" and profoundly feel the pressure — imposed by myself, mostly, but reinforced by the institution of philanthropy — to somehow discern what a "good investment" is. In 12 years in this business, I have learned to trust my instincts about people and what is important to them."
— Henry Rael, McCune Charitable FoundationAs you continue your catalytic journey, embrace the leadership virtues of humility, passion, curiosity, and patience. They will guide you toward a more holistic and effective approach to tackling your community's most pressing challenges.