Blueprint for Social Change: Shaping an Impact-Based Strategy - Case Study 2002 – 2020

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Patience Social change may take a long time, especially when it entails complex social missions. We have no doubt that appropriate planning, professionalism and effective work can shorten the time frame, but completing the tasks, achieving the desired results and having a substantial impact can take many years. The time dimension becomes particularly challenging in an age when reality is constantly changing, and there is rapid turnover of players. Over the past two decades, we have experienced numerous disappointments. On many occasions, we had difficulty controlling the pace of change and we understood that we had no magic wand to create quick solutions. Nevertheless, we recognized that a philanthropy engages for the long term and, therefore, we have a responsibility to lead complex processes that require patience, not only with respect to seeing results but also in the process itself. Challenges Along the Way The decision to be an activist foundation was not always simple and easy. In this review, it is important to us to present a complete picture, including the professional and personal complexities. Nevertheless, we must stress that the advantages, accomplishments and satisfaction definitely outweighed the challenges, difficulties and disappointments, and we have no regrets about our decision. Selection of an area of activity The social issue that we chose to promote - inclusion of people with disabilities - is not at the heart of philanthropic activity and is often marginalized. One complex task that we faced was introducing a peripheral, even unpopular issue into the philanthropic and social discourse. At times, our opinion was a minority one, and we found ourselves working with just a small handful of philanthropic foundations or in a situation in which our beneficiaries were marginalized. Over the years, we haveworked hard to convey and assimilate themessage that inclusion of people with disabilities is related to diversity, social justice and human rights, with emphasis on the obvious: people with disabilities are a fifth of the population and their interest is everyone’s interest. Inclusion is an issue in all areas of life, and it involves many complexities.