IFTF Foresight Awareness for Philanthropy in 90 minutes

IFTF Foresight Awareness for Philanthropy

DATE: Monday, September 14, 2026

TIME: 11:00-12:30am PDT / 2:00-3:30pm EDT / 20:00-21:30 CEST

LOCATION: Online / Live / Zoom

REGISTRATION: $99 per participant

IFTF Foresight Awareness for Philanthropy is a 90-minute, introductory-level online learning experience to jumpstart your process of developing strategic, long-term perspectives within your organization.

Many philanthropies are designed to exist in perpetuity. Yet, it can be hard to think long-term because we are always triaging the urgency of the present, balancing responsive strategies with proactive ones, and engaging with Trustees, grantees and other colleagues to move sustainable change forward.

Foresight can strengthen grantmaking and investment strategies, add a critical layer to learning and evaluation, and make your philanthropy more future-ready.

Start your foresight journey by learning the building blocks of strategic foresight with an exploration of our futures topic—how people, plants, animals, communities, policies, and services will change because of climate disruptions in the next decade. All of this, in partnership with IFTF, which has a 55+ year track record of embedding strategic foresight in organizations.

This course is for you if:

You have been wanting to learn about strategic foresight and how it can add value to your work as a philanthropic funder or philanthropy-serving organization.

To maintain a distraction-free environment for learners, this event operates with a non-solicitation policy.

SKILLS

Upon completion of the session you will have an introductory understanding of:

• The professional practice of strategic foresight (definition, value, mindset, use cases in the philanthropic sector);
• 4 common mental traps that keep us stuck in the present & how foresight can help
• The building blocks of futures work: drivers, signals, and forecasts
• Practical, future-back thinking habits that can be immediately connected to your work

REVIEWS

“Simply put, this training provides foundations with a well-honed toolkit of approaches for engaging stakeholders in thought-provoking, collaborative and generative dialogue that has the power to shape strategy, programs and investments.  Foresight practices have been used in government and industry for decades, and just now seem to be making their way into philanthropy — just as the world needs it. As the speed and complexity of our societal problems increase, we need new approaches that allow us to work together to make sense of them.” 

—Andy Stoll, Senior Program Officer, Kauffman Foundation, Alum of IFTF Foresight Essentials for Philanthropy

ABOUT IFTF

Institute for the Future is the world’s leading foresight education and futures organization. For over 55 years, businesses, governments, and social impact organizations have depended upon IFTF global forecasts, custom research, and foresight training to navigate complex change and develop world-ready strategies. IFTF methodologies and toolsets yield coherent views of transformative possibilities across all sectors that together support a more equitable and sustainable future. Institute for the Future is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Palo Alto, California. Our mission is to help organizations, communities, and leaders become future-ready. Learn more at iftf.org.

For information about IFTF Foresight Essentials training program, visit iftf.org/foresightessentials.

For questions about IFTF Foresight Awareness for Philanthropy, email  register@iftf.org.