Is Your Foundation a Learning Philanthropy?
Most foundations value learning. But many are still asking: what does good look like? And how do we know if learning is actually making us more effective?
The Framework at a Glance
The Learning Philanthropy Framework helps foundations see what good looks like, measure progress, and strengthen the learning practices that power impact.
Use the Self-Assessment to get a clear picture of your foundation’s maturity across six areas of practice—revealing your foundation’s strengths, surfacing important gaps, and helping you identify where to focus next.
Funded & Built With:
Built Specifically for Philanthropies
For decades, foundations have borrowed learning frameworks from other sectors. But none of them quite fit. Philanthropy has its own unique learning needs—so why shouldn’t it have its own learning framework?
The Convive Collective created the Framework specifically for philanthropy. Six pioneering philanthropies then put it to the test—helping refine and strengthen it through real-world use.
The result? A practical framework for putting learning at the heart of your foundation’s culture and operations—and using it to achieve greater impact.
“A breakthrough tool for foundations serious about becoming true learning organizations.”
“The Learning Philanthropy Framework helped our team tackle conversations we’d been circling around for years. Instead of feeling heavy, the experience was surprisingly hopeful and energizing.”
“Honestly, this is the gold mine I wish I had five years ago when we were just starting up as a foundation. Every foundation should be using this.”
“Don’t assume shared mental models about learning. Unpack what learning is and why it’s important.”
"The Framework turned our aspirations to be a learning organization into honest, practical, and energizing conversations about how we learn and improve."
Simple enough to use immediately. Sophisticated enough to reshape organizational behavior.
Leadership changes. Priorities shift. But a foundation’s learning shouldn’t disappear with the people who carried it. The LPF turns hard-won lessons into shared language and durable practice—so each new chapter can build on the last instead of starting over.
Learning doesn’t thrive on strong evidence and good intentions alone. The LPF names the often-invisible conditions that accelerate learning within an institution. It illuminates how the sum of the components unlocks an enriching strategic learning culture that drives deeper impact.
"The beauty is in the discussion -- not the rating."
How Philanthropies are Benefiting
No two foundations have used the Framework in quite the same way. Explore how learning leaders have used it to establish a foundation-wide learning baseline, build a shared vision, uncover root causes getting in the way, and breathe new life into conversations that had gone stagnant.
How Rockefeller Built a Shared Vision for Learning
See how the Rockefeller Foundation aligned cross-functional teams around a shared learning strategy and prioritized its next steps.
How Co-Impact Wove Learning Into Strategy
See how Co-Impact applied their partner learning practices inwardly to strengthen their internal strategy.
How Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg Reenergized Old Conversations
See how the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg transformed abstract discussions into practical learning practices and clearer decisions.
How Laudes Uncovered What Helps—and Hinders—Learning
See how Laudes Foundation used the Framework to establish a learning baseline and align teams.
What's Your Next Step?
Whether you want to dive in on your own, talk it through with a thought partner, or learn alongside peers, we're here to help.
A Conversation Tool for Becoming a Learning Philanthropy
Designed to feel more like a card game than a traditional assessment, the Self-Assessment helps your team understand what good looks like, surface different perspectives, and identify practical priorities for strengthening learning.
Whether you’re establishing a baseline, making the case for learning, or building alignment across your foundation, it offers a structured—and surprisingly fun—way to turn reflection into action.
Want Community?
Join the Learning Philanthropy Retreat & Cohort
Becoming a Learning Philanthropy is easier—and much more fun—alongside peers.
Join a small group of learning leaders for an immersive three-day retreat followed by six months of one-on-one coaching and peer learning. Together, participants strengthen their foundations’ learning strategies alongside others navigating many of the same challenges.
Start a Conversation
Not sure where to begin? Curious how other foundations are using the Framework? We'd love to help.
Whether you're exploring the Framework for the first time or thinking about bringing it to your team, we're happy to answer questions, share examples, and help you find the right starting point.
