What becomes possible when philanthropy embodies the narratives we need to build the world we long for?

Elemental was born from the imaginations of movement leaders, narrative practitioners, and funder organizers whose lived experience and professional expertise are reflected in our mandate to: cultivate conditions to resource narrative power.

Philanthropy plays a critical role in the narrative ecosystem by making sustained contributions to a broad set of actors whose work spans issues, disciplines, and borders — and doing so across generations because that is the time horizon on which narrative change takes place.

As a funder learning and grantmaking initiative, Elemental contributes to philanthropic practices that fortify narrative infrastructure and make it possible to collectively advance a shared vision of the future.

We invite you to join a community of resource stewards who leverage the power of their position through:

Cultivate relationships that encourage a more cohesive and coordinated philanthropic ecosystem.
Create opportunities for knowledge exchange that builds a shared analysis of the conditions and illuminates paths forward.
Design and carry out funding experiments to test assumptions, generate learning, and refine the practices of resource redistribution.
Enable greater coordination among individuals and institutions in philanthropy.

By design, our work takes place through partnerships with foundations, philanthropy-serving organizations, funder networks, and narrative practitioners. We make deliberate decisions to build on, complement, and deepen existing work.

WHAT WE’VE DONE:

Initiated our first funding experiments
Organized 4 convenings of narrative funders in Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, and the United States
Refined the narrative approaches of 11 foundations through fee-for-service engagements
Designed and facilitated learning journeys for foundation staff and trustees/board members
Engaged in 1:1 knowledge exchanges with staff and trustees/board members at 120+ foundations
Shared our research, strategic insights, and analysis with 155,000+ people through 50+ publications, presentations, and podcasts in English, Spanish, French, and Italian

WHAT WE’RE DOING:

Facilitating a multiyear funder engagement initiative in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Advising on the design of narrative grantmaking strategies and carrying out funding experiments globally
Regularly convening funders in multiple countries
Co-hosting sessions with funders at philanthropy conferences and meetings
Providing strategic guidance for a narrative infrastructure funder learning and action cohort
Curating and disseminating insights on the funding principles and practices that most effectively strengthen narrative ecosystems and infrastructure

There is more to discover.

Team

Chiara Cattaneo

CO-LEAD
Chiara has co-designed and implemented transnational, multi-stakeholder initiatives with grassroots organisations, INGOs, and philanthropy, and engaged extensively in advocacy focused on migration and modern slavery in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. She currently works with nonprofit organizations and private foundations to build strategic capacities, develop accountability, and sustain meaningful dialogue across these ecosystems.
Mandy Van Deven

CO-LEAD
Mandy has directed global and regional portfolios for private and family foundations to provide grants and capacity building support to groups in multiple countries that advance gender, racial, economic, and climate justice and strengthen the infrastructure for narrative power. She has a demonstrated track record in designing and implementing funding initiatives that center the knowledge, lived experience, and solutions of those with an acute understanding of injustice.
Jocelyn Ban

OPERATIONS LEAD
Jocelyn is an independent advisor on reimagining philanthropy, systems, and ways of working. She supports the funding ecosystem of movement-aligned organizations and leaders focusing on long-term systems change to advance justice and equity for all.
Leticia Peguero

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Leticia has been at the forefront of social justice philanthropy for more than two decades, and has worked at the intersection of racial justice, economic justice, and narrative change. She approaches her work with a deep commitment to creating more just communities, practices, and institutions.
Candice Wynter

PROJECT MANAGER / COMMUNICATIONS LEAD
Candice applies her experience in philanthropy, strategic communications, network building, research, and evaluation to advance racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice. Her work unlocks investments in solutions that help people and communities to thrive.