CASE STUDY | Shifting From a Funder-Driven to Community-Driven Process

The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation (Sewall) has been engaged in a learning journey—both internally and externally—to deepen equity. That learning has informed the foundation’s thinking about what they do and how they do it and sparked their desire to shift towards more community-driven processes.

One of Sewall’s hallmarks is a relationship-centered practice through programs that are designed in conversation with community members and peer funders. Influenced in part by Being the Change, Sewall has been exploring different ways they can transform themselves to increase their impact. In addition to providing grants for general operations, projects, and capital expenses, Sewall employs other strategies, including capacity building, impact investment, and support for policy and advocacy, to achieve transformative impacts in communities across the state of Maine.



Recent posts

CASE STUDY | Building on the Strengths of a Collective Culture: The Case of the États Généraux du Collectif des partenaires en développement des communautés
CASE STUDY | Building on the Strengths of a Collective Culture: The Case of the États Généraux du Collectif des partenaires en développement des communautés
WEBINAR | Bridging Community and Data for Climate Action
WEBINAR | Bridging Community and Data for Climate Action
CASE STUDY | Supporting Indigenous Innovation: The Case of the First People’s Innovation Centre
CASE STUDY | Supporting Indigenous Innovation: The Case of the First People’s Innovation Centre
CASE STUDY | Harnessing the Power of Networking: The Case of the National Table of Community Development Corporations
CASE STUDY | Harnessing the Power of Networking: The Case of the National Table of Community Development Corporations
CASE STUDY | Building Capacity Through Knowledge Mobilization: A Case Study on Projet collectif
CASE STUDY | Building Capacity Through Knowledge Mobilization: A Case Study on Projet collectif
WEBINAR | Collaboration – Beginnings and Endings
WEBINAR | Collaboration – Beginnings and Endings
CASE STUDY | Citizen Mobilization as a Tool in the Fight Against Systemic Racism: The Case of the City of Montréal
CASE STUDY | Citizen Mobilization as a Tool in the Fight Against Systemic Racism: The Case of the City of Montréal
TOOL | Accountability Matrix: Building an Accountability Matrix to Guide Your Collaboration
TOOL | Accountability Matrix: Building an Accountability Matrix to Guide Your Collaboration
WEBINAR | Navigating Multiple Crises: Reflecting on the Role of Systemic Mediation for Transformative Change
WEBINAR | Navigating Multiple Crises: Reflecting on the Role of Systemic Mediation for Transformative Change
WEBINAR | Creating a Culture of Abundance and Equity: Lessons from The Learning Tree
WEBINAR | Creating a Culture of Abundance and Equity: Lessons from The Learning Tree
WEBINAR | Circle of Actions Q&A
WEBINAR | Circle of Actions Q&A
REPORT | Evaluation Report: Participatory Grantmaking Pilot
REPORT | Evaluation Report: Participatory Grantmaking Pilot
TOOL | Open Space Technology
WEBINAR | Using Social Finance to Catalyze Place-Based Change
WEBINAR | Using Social Finance to Catalyze Place-Based Change
WEBINAR | Building Communities That Create a Sense of Belonging
WEBINAR | Building Communities That Create a Sense of Belonging
WEBINAR | Indigenous Partnerships for SDGs
WEBINAR | Indigenous Partnerships for SDGs
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GUIDE | Improving Youth Service Navigation: A Guide for Community Organizations
WEBINAR | Advancements on Basic Income in Canada: 2023 and Beyond
WEBINAR | Advancements on Basic Income in Canada: 2023 and Beyond
WEBINAR | Cybersecurity – Building a Proactive Approach
WEBINAR | Cybersecurity – Building a Proactive Approach
WEBINAR | Intro to the Inner Development Goals: A Tool for Transforming Systems
WEBINAR | Intro to the Inner Development Goals: A Tool for Transforming Systems