Operating Archetypes Webinar - Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors


Foundation: Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Skoll Foundation, California Wellness Foundation

credit: Twitter image

Operating Archetypes is a new resource created by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to help philanthropies and other donors better understand their distinct position in the philanthropy ecosystem. The webinar was moderated by Renee Karibi-Whyte, Senior Vice President of RPA. A Talent Agency is in the business of spotting emerging leaders, often using open competitions to get new ideas into the field. An Underwriter is an insurance company is an underwriter, although they're kind of close to it. There is no philanthropy that works the way a Talent Agency does, although that would be fun to see.

A Campaign Manager partners with other organizations and often the public sector to try and tackle a very big, complicated problem that needs a lot of players. Think Tanks don't just fund experts in a field, they hire experts and bring them into their enterprise. Field Builders look to fill in gaps where things don't even exist. The California Wellness Foundation's mission is to support health and wellness across the state of California. Georgia's organization Humanize works with sustainability and income generation of vulnerable populations in Brazil.

Richard's top three out Operating Archetypes are Campaign Manager, Field Builder, and Venture Catalyst. I think the power of archetypes is it helps you understand both your intention and what it is that you're doing. It's a combination of things, and all the archetypes bring some angle that you've never thought about as a donor in the ecosystem. Richard and Renee ask Georgia and Melissa about whether their teams are equipped to operate in the archetypal mode of Sower and Designer. Georgia: Net weaving helps us to evolve as a group of systematic thinkers on how to do philanthropy in these tough times.

Many of the people that we spoke to talked about transitioning from one kind of archetype to another, as the field they're working in changes. We are moving into a period at Cal Wellness where we're examining our current strategic framework. It's a strategic planning tool I find really valuable. Are we achieving what we intended? What's happening in response to the way that we're behaving in the world?

And what capacities do we need to build out? Thinking about how you assess your internal capacity is a great opportunity for funders for many reasons. One of the innovations that we've seen in the last 10 years is recognizing what Georgia called soft power: influence, convening capacity, voice. Those require a different set of muscles, and skills may be there, but you may need to work inside your organization to develop those muscles.

Read the Entire Article


Selected Foundation News

A customized collection of news from foundations from around the Web.

Former Idea Students in Baton Rouge Struggle to Transfer

IDEA Bridge and IDEA Innovation, which opened in 2018, had more than 1,900 students enrolled in grades kindergarten to 12 at the time they called it quits.Colorado-based Third Futures Schools...more

Wynne Yellowjackets Soccer Program to Host Youth Camp Friday

The Wynne Yellowjackets soccer program will host a soccer camp from 6-8 p.m.Friday.The camp is open to all ages and skill levels.The program is based in the city's downtown area.For more information,...more

Nyc Health + Hospitals Expands Youth Mental Health Program, Now Totaling 4 Locations

NYC Health + Hospitals expands youth mental health program, now totaling 4 locations.Stay Informed with Becker's Behavioral Health Newsletter.Use the weekly Newsquiz to test your knowledge of...more

Brics+: New Global Health Is Possible

Susana Van Der Ploeg calls for BRICS+ leadership in fostering equitable health governance, innovation, and civil society inclusion.She urges the bloc to adopt compulsory licensing, strengthen...more

Goethe University Leads New Era of Pfas Degradation With Boron-Based Catalyst

Scientists at Goethe University have achieved a major breakthrough in PFAS degradation.Their newly developed catalyst breaks down PFAS compounds rapidly and efficiently.The process occurs in mere...more

Two Programs Recognized As 2025 Aha Circle of Life Award Honorees

The Circle of Life Award honors hospital and palliative care programs that are ensuring equitable access to care.The awards are cosponsored by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative...more

Prism's On3 Campus Welcomes 90000 Sq. Ft. Hackensack Meridian Health Facility

Prism's ON3 campus welcomes 90,000 sq.ft.Hackensack Meridian Health facility.Four-story facility offers primary care, urgent care, rheumatology, gastroenterology, nephrology and orthopedic...more

2025 Jago Award Recipient: Innovation €“ Darren Ditto

Darren Ditto, Director, Clinical Information Systems Operations, received the Innovation Jago Award.The award is presented to an individual or team who exemplifies outstanding behaviours and actions...more

Study: Major Advances in Ehr Usability and Clinician Satisfaction

Study: Major Advances in EHR Usability and Clinician Satisfaction.Healthcare Innovation: EHRs are becoming more intuitive and intuitive to use and to understand.The EHR is becoming more and more...more

Boston Medical Center Health System Announces New Leadership Appointments and ...

Boston Medical Center Health System Announces New Leadership Appointments and Expanded Roles to Support Integrated System Vision.Joe Camillus, MBA, MPH, has been named System Chief Operating Officer...more






In the world of social enterprises, failure is a cringe-worthy moment nobody wants to talk about. But, social entrepreneurs can benefit from their failures.




Federal Government Grant and Assistance Programs



Edited by: Michael Saunders

© 2008-2025 Copyright Michael Saunders