Simplifying the Complex Systems

Dear Readers,
In the spirit of fostering wide participation, The Patterson Foundation (TPF) strives to create opportunities to make philanthropy open and accessible to all. One of the ways TPF demonstrates this is by simplifying the complex systems through which we work into actionable points that are easy to recall and understand — ultimately helping us share more of our learnings with more people.

The many “5s” TPF often references and shares were born out of that focus. Anyone who has had the opportunity to collaborate with TPF will tell you that the 5s are more than mere words on a brochure or poster. Rather, they embody and represent the ideals and actions that TPFers bring to life each day through their efforts to strengthen people, organizations, and communities.

The growth of TPF’s collection of 5s over the years reflects the evolution of our collective experiences in philanthropy and the knowledge we each have accrued throughout our respective journeys. Crystalizing those learnings into our 5s creates a strong compass that guides TPF’s future collaborations and efforts — reminding each of us who we are as TPFers, where we have been, and where we can go next.

If you were to ask a group of TPFers what their favorite 5s are and what they have meant to their work, you will no doubt get a variety of answers with experiences spread across multiple initiatives. The breadth of those experiences inspired this edition of Beyond The Blog, which is dedicated to sharing stories demonstrating TPF’s 5s in action.

As you dive into these stories, I encourage you to ponder how each set of 5s can be applied to your own life outside of philanthropy. Beyond TPF’s particular set of 5s, consider the tremendous value in taking an intentional approach to archiving and refining what we learn through our journey to apply it as we go forward. By consistently capturing our learnings and making them actionable, we can all strengthen our stride toward a better future.

With gratitude for our learnings today and for those yet to come,
Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation