Last year ITP celebrated its 10-year anniversary during our Annual Grant Partner Gathering, now a formalized part of the initial ITP grant process.  While we hoped it would provide both a respite from the day-to-day churn, we also worked hard to ensure it was invigorating for our grant partners, both personally and professionally, as well as our invited Allies (visiting experts that join the Gathering to provide advice).  We took great care to work with trusted facilitators and engaging presenters in a beloved and beautiful setting (Westerbeke Ranch), to create a welcoming, purposeful and truly ‘pause’- worthy experience. 

The trick of course is measuring our impact. Like our grant partners, at ITP we too seek to capture ROI (Return on Ideas & Inspirations) and ROC (Return on Collaboration & Connection). We do this work to spur innovation, give grant partners the time and space to reflect upon their ideas, and the connections and confidence to go forth with bold new solutions. Our hope has always been that by providing our own ‘collective pause’ with current and former Grant Partners (GP), that we would help accelerate their work, refresh their spirits and connect them to new colleagues. So at last year’s GP Gathering, did we succeed?

Short-term, yes.  We are delighted to report that similar to recent years, attendees shared that ‘getting re-energized and spending quality time with like-minded individuals in a beautiful setting’ was a highlight of the experience.  And almost 80% of participants said the experience helped them ‘think more strategically about their work’.  And perhaps unsurprisingly, ‘taking part in informal discussions’ and ‘listening to Grant Partner presentations’ were the most valued part of the overall experience. 

While Grant Partner feedback and careful observation indicate we are on the right track, it is also clear some areas need refining. Our “Open Sessions”, meant to allow GP and Allies a chance to share knowledge and co-design some of the event, have been a mixed-bag, with some sessions working well and others proving of limited value. Conversations have begun on how to improve this portion of the event.

Long term, we believe the Gathering continues to provide positive effects for all involved. Past participants regularly share how the experience proved a turning point in their work, both in terms of new collaborations, grants and strategies (quantitative), to a renewed focus and determination to continue making an impact (qualitative). As we continue to hear these stories and see the results, ITP remains eager to invest in the bold changemakers tirelessly creating new climate challenge solutions. And we look forward to welcoming the new and returning Grant Partners and Allies at the Annual Collective Gathering in October 2018!