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Hilary Pearson's avatar

Michele I really like this distinction you are making between profession and craft in philanthropic practice. I agree with you that there is much about foundation practice that is more customized and relationship-oriented, guided by a specific foundation's culture and history. Of course craft and profession cannot be separated entirely. A foundation guild just as the medieval guilds would have norms and specified levels of expertise. But the idea that craft is more relational or individually (even client?) centred certainly applies in my experience of how individual foundations operate. I do think that craft assumes a level of expertise and that has to be acquired through learning and experience. What many if not most staffed foundations still do not pay enough attention to in my view is the shaping and prioritization of learning. Foundations can be explicitly mindful about their learning by adopting learning agendas, setting aside time for learning, and incorporating learning into their daily practice. Would love to see more examples of this.

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