July 14, 2016 What does it mean for a foundation to become a facilitative leader? And how can foundation staff make the case for network-based funding approaches to boards and other stakeholders? This two-part series will explore successes and insights from the DentaQuest Foundation’s national systems change strategy Oral Health 2020. Started in 2011, this network-based strategy has achieved notable results—development of oral health leaders across the country, creation of new state partnerships connected to a national health improvement network, and tangible system and policy changes such as the expansion of public benefits in more than 15 states. Come learn about what it took to make this work happen from the perspective of Foundation leaders Brian Souza and Mike Monopoli, initiative evaluator Clare Nolan (Harder+Company Community Research), and network weaver Marianne Hughes (Interaction Institute for Social Change). Part 2 will dive deeper into what it took to achieve these results, including lessons learned from network building as well as what it means for a foundation to take on a facilitative leadership role.

1. July 2016
Webinar 5
Network Leadership Webinar Series

2. Foundations as Network Stewards
Part Two: Building & Sustaining a Network to Drive Systems Change

3. Presenters
Marianne Hughes
Senior Consultant and
Founding Executive
Director
Interaction Institute for
Social Change
@IISCBlog
Michael Monopoli
Vice President of
Foundation Programs
DentaQuest Foundation
@OralHealth2020
Brian Souza
Vice President of
Strategy and Operations
DentaQuest Foundation
@OralHealth2020

4. About the DentaQuest Foundation
• Core belief that oral health is a social justice issue and that
everyone should have the same opportunity to live a healthy life
• Mission: To improve the oral health of all
• Established in 1999, initially focused in Massachusetts, most
grants addressing clinical needs
• Now a national philanthropic oral health organization which
believes that real change can only be achieved by improving the
systems of care, community, financing, and policy

5. IISC catalyzes the will and skill of the diverse public to
create social justice and sustainability. We do this with
people in communities, organizations and movements
through training, facilitation, network building and
public engagement. IISC brings our commitment to
equity, love and trust to all of our work.
About IISC

6. Agenda
• Building Network Alignment
• Evolving the Network and Network Infrastructure
• Investing to Build Capacity and Connection
• Managing Power Dynamics
• Maintaining Stakeholder Buy-In

7. The urgency and scale of
social problems, coupled
with the limited results to
date, cry out for new
approaches.
Excerpted from…

8. 8
When
Systems Fail
Alignment

9. When
Systems Fail
9
Alignment

10. POLICY
Oral health is a key component
of health policy
Oral health policy consistent at
local, state and federal levels
Oral health measurement
systems in place
Policy to allow expanded
workforce
FINANCING
Sufficient funding to support
care, prevention and training
Alignment of payment with
evidence, prevention, disease
management and outcomes
CARE
Dental workforce sufficient to
meet needs efficiently &
effectively
Care based on evidence,
prevention, disease
management and outcomes
Oral health integrated into all
aspects of health care
Consumer focused care delivery
COMMUNITY
Oral health integrated into
education and social services
Optimal oral health literacy
Strong community prevention
and care infrastructure
Provider base representative of
community
Alignment

11. Alignment

12. Alignment

13. Alignment

14. Alignment

15. The unit of action in the 21st century is the network,
not the organization.
Andrew Zolli

16. Evolution

17. A Multi-Hub Network
States, cities, counties, and neighborhoods
Target hubs, Issue Area hubs, Organizational
hubs, Advocacy hubs and Individual
Connectors.
NetworkInfrastructure

18. Strengthening
the Hubs at
Every Level
National
Network
Grasstops Orgs
Statewide Hubs
Grassmiddles
Orgs
City/County
Hubs
Neighborhood/
Community
Hubs Grassroots
Orgs
NetworkInfrastructure

19. 19
NetworkInfrastructure

20. • Know the stage of the network’s evolution
• Know the scale of the network that you are
building and the management implications
• Know the type of network you are building
• Know what is required to manage and staff the
network
Capacity&Connection

21. Network Outcomes
* Madeline Taylor and Co.
Capacity&Connection

22. NETWORKS NEED TO BE MANAGED
Birds of a feather flock together Those close by form a tie
Capacity&Connection

23. • Network Leadership Development
• Collaborative Planning, Skills and Tools
• Messaging and Communications
• Health Equity and Racial Justice
• Policy and Advocacy
• Building Content Knowledge
• Weaving the Network (in-person and virtual)
– Convenings and Webinars
– Basecamp and Socious
Capacity&Connection

24. Know your stakeholders and what they care about
• Current network partners
• Grantees
• Potential network partners
• Ambassadors and influencers
• Board
• Team
Buy-In

25. Buy-In
Focus on building value
• Inclusion, Inclusion, Inclusion
• Broadening and deepening the network and
connections
• Evolving the strategies
• Measuring and tracking impact
• Celebrating success

26. Reframing the relationship between the Foundation
and the Network and Field
Progress…
• Building the Foundation’s network mindset
• Establishing authentic relationships and trust
• Building a learning community between network
members and Foundation
• Building a strong and stable network and network
infrastructure
PowerDynamics

27. The road ahead…
• Is the network strong and stable enough for the
Foundation to step back?
• How does the flow of resources impact power
dynamics?
• What organizational “structure” will support the
network going forward?
• Is the Foundation really ready and willing to give
up control?
• What is the appropriate role of the Foundation in
supporting the network going forward?
PowerDynamics

28. The world doesn’t change one person at a time.
It changes as networks of relationships form among
people who discover they share a common cause
and vision of what’s possible.
Meg Wheatley

29. Questions and Discussion
THANK YOU
mike.monopoli@dentaquestfoundation.org
brian.souza@dentaquestfoundation.org
mhughes@interactioninstitute.org