Marilyn Darling

Biographic Data

ID4170041
NAMEMarilyn Darling
GIVEN NAMESMarilyn
FAMILY NAMEDarling
SIGNATUREDARLING M
AFFILIATIONSTotal Quadran (France)
VERIFIEDNo
TOTAL WORKS8
TOTAL CITATIONS19
AUTHOR COUNT8
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2011
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2024
H-INDEX2

  • Seeding Impact: Shifting From Orchestration to Emergence

    Open AccessMarilyn Darling, Veena PankajARTICLEThe Foundation Review2024

    The 2016 Foundation Review article “Emergent Learning: A Framework for Whole-System Strategy, Learning and Adaptation” talked about what an emergent strategy promises — to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Has this prediction played out in practice? Since it appeared in 2016, what has the growing community of Emergent Learning practitioners learned about what it takes to seed and grow impact? This article addresses those q…

  • Emergent Learning: A Framework for Whole-System Strategy, Learning, and Adaptation – With 2024 Prologue

    Open AccessMarilyn Darling, Jillaine Smith et al.ARTICLEThe Foundation Review2024Cited by: 3References: 1

    Editor’s Note: This article, first published in print and online in 2016, has been republished by The Foundation Review with minor updates. The field of philanthropy is exploring what it takes to achieve impact in complex environments. The terms “adaptive” and “emergent” are beginning to be used, often interchangeably, to describe strategies by which funders can tackle complexity. This article proposes distinguishing between the two and explores …

  • Executive Summary

    Open AccessMarilyn Darling, Heidi Sparkes Guber et al.ARTICLEThe Foundation Review2019

    The inherent power imbalance in the grantmaker/grantee relationship has come into particular focus as equity and justice have become a greater priority for philanthropy. The McCune Charitable Foundation deliberately designed an emergent strategy approach that established clear goals and then created a platform to permit a reversal of that power dynamic, so that leadership for priorities comes from those closest to the work. The authors launched a…

  • Designing for Emergence: The McCune Charitable Foundation Grows Agency Across New Mexico

    Open AccessMarilyn Darling, Heidi Sparkes Guber et al.ARTICLEThe Foundation Review2019Cited by: 2References: 2

    The impact of the inherent power imbalance in the grantmaker/grantee relationship has come into particular focus as equity and justice have become a greater priority for philanthropy. This article looks at the example of the McCune Charitable Foundation, which deliberately designed an emergent strategy approach that establishes clear goals and then created a platform to permit a reversal of that power dynamic, so that leadership for priorities co…

  • Full Issue #11.2 on Collaborative Learning

    Open AccessTeresa Behrens, Pat Robinson et al.ARTICLEThe Foundation Review2019References: 1

    describe the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative, a multiyear collaboration of 17 funders in Los Angeles County, California, that supports nonprofit organizations to collaborate and restructure in a variety of forms. As the initiative evolved, its evaluation and learning system had to have the ability to evolve with it. This article presents key design aspects of the system, describes how it evolved over time, and shares insights and learnings

  • Executive Summaries

    Open AccessBarbara Klugman, Barbara Concepts et al.ARTICLEThe Foundation Review2016

    This article describes the roles of five advocacy groups that built collaborative initiatives to address the collapsing health care system in South Africa. Findings indicate that for both advocacy groups working in alliances and for funders, flexible funding and a shared value system among groups with diverse capacities, constituencies, and reputational resources are keys to enabling adaptive and innovative strategies for holding the public secto…

  • Emergent Learning: A Framework for Whole-System Strategy, Learning, and Adaptation

    Open AccessMarilyn Darling, Heidi Guber et al.ARTICLEThe Foundation Review2016Cited by: 12References: 1

    The field of philanthropy is exploring what it takes to achieve impact in complex environments. The terms “adaptive” and “emergent” are beginning to be used, often interchangeably, to describe strategies by which funders can tackle complexity. This article proposes distinguishing between the two and explores more deeply how the research into complexity can inform philanthropic practice. While approaches like systems mapping, scenario planning, an…

  • Lessons (Not Yet) Learned

    Open AccessMarilyn Darling, Jillaine SmithARTICLEThe Foundation Review2011Cited by: 2References: 2

    Despite a significant influx of charitable dollars over the last 10 to 20 years, solutions to complex social problems remain elusive, while philanthropy has been facing growing pressure to account for its tax-free dollars; to demonstrate, replicate, and scale success; and to be transparent about failed social investments