LEGACY IS DESTINY.
In 2012 Hurricane Sandy flooded lower Manhattan, disrupting the lives of New Yorkers (including members of my family in TriBeCa), and precipitating a chain of events that would lead to the eventual destruction of my childhood home.
Sandy and its aftermath forced me to reflect on my values, and to question many of the basic assumptions that had guided me throughout my career.
I delved into the history of TriBeCa, searching for answers to the question “how did this happen?” and to find an understanding of my own place in the narrative sweep of history.
What I found taught me that we are not simply the inheritors of our past, but also the shapers of our future.
I started TimeTravlr to help others look at the challenges of the present through the lens of the future—recognizing that the world we build today will be the legacy we leave for tomorrow.
We have big challenges ahead of us.
But that’s why it’s important to know where we’ve come from, so that we can see more clearly where we’re going.
And once we get there, to be proud of where we’ve been.
You’ve already taken the first step on that journey.
Let’s take the next steps together.
—Matt Landfield
Brooklyn, 2019
We Now Live in A Knowledge Economy
"Over the last few decades, foundations have increasingly prioritized transparency and communicating their work with the public. They see open communications as an essential element of building public trust and increasing their access to innovative thinking.
Many still think of foundations as a source of grants. In our Information Age, they are as much about ideas and knowledge as they are about dollars."
—Five Trends in Philanthropy, by Vicki Spruill, 12/16/16, Council on Foundations
Storytelling is A Super Power
Emotional Connection
Storytelling is the glue we use to connect with each other (we're telling you a story right now!) Our brains are hard-wired to engage with and respond to stories—the better we are at telling them, the stronger the emotional bonds between us become.
Relationship Building
Storytelling becomes a form of currency in a networked world, a critical medium of exchange. Our stories are the most powerful tools we have to inspire and draw others to us.
Visible
Impact
Sometimes "seeing" is more powerful than "saying." Visual stories have profound power to communicate the impact our people have on the world.
Four Pillars of Storytelling in Philanthropy
Vision and Leadership
Sharing the vision of where your institution is headed, and even more importantly— why and how you do what you do— is essential in communicating your organization's thought leadership, mission and "knowledge trust."
Real World Impact
Personal stories have the power to move, inspire and touch audiences. Grantee organizations and the people they serve are at the heart of change.
Tell their stories.
Stewardship
Organizations develop methodologies, data in
the field, and relationships with their partners that can provide valuable insights into best practices. Unlocking and sharing that knowledge can pay dividends across an entire field.
Transformed by Giving
Donors, Trustees, Founders and Board members are often profoundly changed through their work in philanthropy. Stories of that transformation can be powerful examples to others in the field.
How Foundations Create Value*
(And Opportunities for Storytelling)
Selecting the Best Grantees
Each dollar will earn a higher social return than a dollar given by a less knowledgeable donor.
Signaling other Funders
By attracting other donors, a foundation effectively improves the return on a larger pool of philanthropic resources.
Improving the Performance of Grant Recipients
Helping a grantee to improve its own capabilities increases its overall effectiveness as anorganization and thus improves the return on all the money it spends.
Advancing the State of Knowledge and Practice
Such agenda-setting work makes every dollar spent in the field—by philanthropists, government,and other organizations—more productive.
