Barr Foundation
Since the start of the Boston Waterfront Initiative, grantees have come together through work groups, convenings, and learning opportunities to build a waterfront that is fun, welcoming, productive, and resilient. With the Initiative’s recent strategy refresh, we revisited the structure and purpose of these activities to better reflect grantee priorities and strengthen collective impact. While early phases of the project are complete, the work continues to evolve, shaping the future of grantee engagement.
We began this project by surveying grantees to capture what has been most rewarding, what challenges they face, and where new opportunities for collaboration exist. These insights are informing the design of a flexible convening structure that blends steady touchpoints like quarterly convenings with responsive sessions, peer exchanges, and learning journeys. At the same time, we are providing facilitation support to Waterfront Partners, helping guide conversations, foster collaboration, and bridge the gap between the Initiative’s refreshed vision and the actionable steps grantees are taking together.
Refined the convening and collaboration structure grounded in grantee input, blending consistent touchpoints with responsive formats like peer exchanges and learning journeys.
Strengthened alignment between grantee efforts and the Initiative’s refreshed vision through targeted facilitation support and collaborative strategy discussions.
Deepened understanding of grantee experiences and priorities via a comprehensive survey, which now informs ongoing engagement and future opportunities for collective impact.
