Dear Friends and Allies,
When I founded the Full Frame Initiative in 2009, “wellbeing” wasn’t in the zeitgeist. It wasn’t part of social justice work. Now it is. Our work, which so many of you have played a role in, has been a part of that transformation. Across the country, at a neighborhood potluck, in a community meeting, during a foster care intake meeting, in a library, in front of a judge, in a mayor’s office, folks are talking about and taking steps toward a fair shot at wellbeing.
We’ve documented what matters to survivors of domestic violence in ways that have changed public perception, funding and programming across the country. We’ve shifted how pandemic recovery dollars flowed into vulnerable communities. We’ve helped to bring residents whose voices have been unheard for too long into decisions that directly impact their lives and neighborhoods. We’ve launched tools that are changing how local governments work with residents to build cities that work for everyone. And so much more. Our work changes lives today, shifts systems to create a better future, and scales through the spread of sticky, potent concepts and tools. Our work remains resonant and in demand, our impact is wide and deep, and the changes we’ve ushered in persist over time and through leadership changes. I am immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished.
It may therefore come as a shock to learn that over the next six months, FFI will be winding down. During this period, we will be engaging our larger network of champions and allies to transition our knowledge, expertise, experience, tools and perspective to a wider group of organizations, individuals and entities.
We did not make this decision lightly. However, over the last two years, sustained, predictable funding that is essential for the work of systems change has become even more rare than it used to be. This trend is expected to continue; it’s one that the field and philanthropy need to reckon with if impact actually matters.
But it’s not just money. If it were, our decision would have been more straightforward. Unpredictable, feast or famine funding makes it challenging to stay staffed consistently, and ours is not a workforce that can quickly expand or contract. Keeping positions open to stay lean makes organizations brittle; over time, tight funds and tight staffing make it all the harder to be nimble and pivot as fully and frequently as these times demand.
We saw two options:
- Continue to charge forward, stretching to a point where we were too fragile to withstand another shock, with a possible sudden closure as a result that would deeply harm the very communities we’ve worked in solidarity with, undermine the impact we’ve had, and leave 15+ years of knowledge, expertise and tools without a home. OR
- Recognize an organization and its mission are not the same thing, celebrate FFI’s accomplishments, and close intentionally, with integrity and centering our values; engage the thousands of leaders across the country who have worked with us to change systems and perspectives to carry the quality work, knowledge and passion forward in the years to come.
In October 2024, we chose the latter.
Over the next six months, we’re focusing on three things: doing well by our people (our staff), our partners (current fieldwork) and our mission (the relationships and commitment of others to this work, and the knowledge, tools and IP built up over the past 15+ years).
By reallocating current resources and securing new resources from a few close donors, we are committed to bucking harmful patterns of nonprofit closure, which too often are chaotic and traumatizing for staff and communities. Instead, we’re working closely with current and historical partners to bring our collaborations to a solid conclusion and to ensure the work endures. We hope to contribute to cracking open false narratives about failure, shame and blame that are rife in our sector.
The need for moving the US towards a country where everyone has a fair shot at wellbeing is more salient than ever. The fundamental disconnect between the resources available and the demand, need and potential is not a reason to turn away from this mission. It’s a reason to pivot, massively. I am deeply grateful to our extraordinary staff, board, senior fellows and core partners who are all committed to seeing this work into its next chapter.
To be able to do work that calls my soul so deeply and engages my mind so fully has been a humbling honor. I am grateful to work with so many exemplary leaders within FFI and across the country; I look forward to continued partnership over these next extraordinary months. Because determining how the work lives on and grows beyond FFI isn’t for FFI to figure out.
It’s up to us – all of us – to set a course together.
Please be in touch to help make this real.
Onward,
Katya Fels Smyth
Founder & CEO
