Listen to "Devex @ SXSW: How Emerson Collective prioritizes causes and partners" on Spreaker.
As a former nonprofit leader, Anne Marie Burgoyne, the managing director of social change organization Emerson Collective, knows what it’s like to go through the typical motions of fundraising: examining requests for proposals, applying for grants, and keeping overheads low.
She and Laurene Powell Jobs wanted to take a different approach. Powell Jobs started the collective which uses a range of tools, including philanthropy, to support causes ranging from education to health equity to immigration.
Devex spoke with Burgoyne about Emerson Collective’s unique approach, its growing work on climate through the Waverley Street Foundation, and how it looks at the role of artificial intelligence in social change.
Inside Emerson Collective's vision of 'frictionless' support for grantees
Emerson Collective is one of a growing number of limited liability companies emerging in philanthropy. Anne Marie Burgoyne, managing director of social innovation, shares with Devex how this structure allows the collective to do more than write checks.
Burgoyne and her team are guided by the principles of trust-based philanthropy, which she said allows her team to shift their focus away from the wrong things, such as reading reports, or “setting expectations that might not be delivered,” to create enough time for the right things.
“We were asking the question: What would it mean if a philanthropist were to show up as a partner? Recognizing there is still an exchange of dollars, that it’s important, given that there are so many opportunities for where those dollars could be deployed, to do it thoughtfully, but then what else could be part of that relationship?” she said.
Listen to the episode to hear more from Burgoyne on Devex @ SXSW, a special edition of our This Week in Global Development podcast.
About the authors
Catherine Cheneycatherinecheney
Catherine Cheney is the Senior Editor for Special Coverage at Devex. She leads the editorial vision of Devex’s news events and editorial coverage of key moments on the global development calendar. Catherine joined Devex as a reporter, focusing on technology and innovation in making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to joining Devex, Catherine earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, and worked as a web producer for POLITICO, a reporter for World Politics Review, and special projects editor at NationSwell. She has reported domestically and internationally for outlets including The Atlantic and the Washington Post. Catherine also works for the Solutions Journalism Network, a non profit organization that supports journalists and news organizations to report on responses to problems.
Naomi Mihara
Naomi Mihara is an Associate Editor for Devex, working on creative and audiovisual projects. She has a background in journalism and international development, having previously served as an assistant correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun and as a communications officer for the International Organization for Migration in Southeast Asia. She holds a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University.
Kate Warren@KateDWarren
Kate Warren is the Executive Vice President and Executive Editor of Devex, where she leads a global team of journalists, event producers, and communications and marketing professionals to drive conversations around the most pressing and urgent issues of our time, including climate, global health, food security, philanthropy, humanitarian crises, and foreign aid funding. Through live journalism — via in-person and virtual events — along with insider news, analysis, podcasts, content series, and special reports, Kate and her team ensure the most important ideas, voices, and debates reach an influencer audience to drive impact and make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.