What's Happening?
At the 2025 Narrative Power Summit in New Orleans, organizations such as Elemental and Our Collective Practice discussed the challenges facing narrative change efforts in philanthropy. Despite increased discussion about the importance of narrative in social
transformation, actual funding for these initiatives has decreased. Prominent organizations like The Opportunity Agenda and IllumiNative have announced closures due to funding shifts. The summit highlighted the need for funders to support narrative infrastructure and ecosystems rather than focusing solely on issue-based content. Experts argue that long-term investment and flexibility are crucial for lasting change, and that funders should prioritize relationships and networks that sustain narrative work.
Why It's Important?
The decline in funding for narrative change efforts poses a significant threat to social movements that rely on storytelling to drive political and economic transformation. Without adequate support, these movements may struggle to maintain momentum and achieve their goals. The summit's discussions underscore the need for philanthropy to adapt its strategies to better support narrative infrastructure, which is essential for building trust and collaboration within communities. By shifting focus from discrete outputs to relational systems, funders can help create a more sustainable environment for narrative change work, ultimately contributing to a more just and equitable society.
