Knowledge work is an increasingly recognizable function, and an emerging field, within philanthropy. Regardless of title and whether grounded in social research, learning and evaluation, or information management and technology, today’s philanthropy practitioners are increasingly adopting a more engaged approach — one that centers shared meaning making as the heart of knowledge work.
Changemakers are often overwhelmed, disappointed, or even frustrated with traditional forms of assessment, evaluation, and social research. We sense that standard approaches don’t align with change and even have historically hurt our communities. Now, more than ever, we want to creatively invest resources into knowledge approaches that are integrated with desired change.
Whether you are new to knowledge work or looking to reflect and refresh your approach, this series will support you in expanding, deepening, and strengthening your knowledge practice in ways that directly align with intentions of social change.
This series is designed from within the sector — by a knowledge professional, with input from knowledge professionals, specifically for knowledge professionals!
Beyond the Buzz: What knowledge work really means to philanthropy
View this video if you are interested in a brief history of knowledge work in philanthropy, how knowledge work can be aligned to missions of social change, and thoughts on why the philanthropic sector is more essential now than at any time before.
This video also serves as an introduction to the Knowledge Designs Certificate Series™ and a description of the optional practice-based format that can support both your individual professional development and your organizational mission at the same time.
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My Reflective “Why?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Curriculum
Introductory (Live Spring 2026)
Embodying Knowledge Practice Inside and Out:
A Knowledge Strategy Course for Changemakers
Knowledge practice is a core capacity for a growing number of philanthropy professionals. This self-paced foundational course supports you in understanding knowledge practice and grounding your knowledge work in key principles and concepts to support positive change.
Practicum (Live Summer 2026)
Exploring Opportunities for Shared Meaning Making
Knowledge Opportunity Scanning™ is grounded in over 25 years of nonprofit and philanthropic sector experience and supports you in identifying the most promising knowledge opportunities in your current philanthropic context.
Embracing Questions and Data as Action Decisions
Although questions and data are often treated as nouns, reframing them as actions increases the value of knowledge work to organizational processes and change efforts.
Engaging Lived Experience as an Analytic Center
Knowledge work comes in many forms and is based in underlying notions of what it means to learn and change. Knowledge work inevitably connects to the lived experiences of individuals, groups, organizations, and communities. Analysis is where lived experience connects to knowledge intentions and decisions to form knowledge strategy that can effectively affect philanthropic mission.
Capstone (Live Fall 2026)
Activating Knowledge Practice for an Expansive and Effective Philanthropy Sector
Knowledge work within philanthropy is a creative and emerging field that is energized through the sharing of practices, insights, tools, innovation, and inspiration.