Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
Capturing a decade of investment in Early Childhood in a publication
Summary: Foresight developed a knowledge product capturing a decade of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation's Early Childhood investment, delivering a condensed publication alongside a framework for a more comprehensive report.
Services: Knowledge product development, editorial strategy, stakeholder interviews.
The Challenge
From 2017 to 2028, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation invested in early childhood systems across Southeast Michigan and Western New York through two signature initiatives, Help Me Grow and PEDALS, working to ensure children were socially, emotionally, and developmentally ready for kindergarten and long-term success. As a spend-down foundation, Wilson approached the work with urgency, aiming to catalyze change that would outlast its own giving. As its Early Childhood portfolio came to a close, the Foundation brought in Foresight Collective to create a knowledge product to capture what had been built, who had been reached, what had been learned, and what the field should carry forward.
Our Approach
We:
Reviewed relevant background materials (e.g., grantee websites, reports, portfolio playbooks, and design references) and developed an initial storyline, including proposed sections, content areas, and visual elements, alongside Foundation staff.
Conducted interviews with Foundation and grantee staff to surface key themes, meeting regularly with the Foundation throughout the sensemaking process.
After completing the original storyline, the Foundation's priorities shifted: rather than the fuller knowledge product originally scoped, they needed something shorter. While this meant that the final piece couldn't incorporate the full depth of what our interviews had surfaced, we wove in grantee stories, quotes, and perspectives into a concise publication.
The Outcome
We delivered a condensed yet compelling knowledge product, alongside a detailed outline of the longer report originally envisioned, a compilation and summary of the interview findings and research that had informed the project from the start.
The Result
The Foundation has a concise, ready-to-use document telling the story of its Early Childhood investment, along with a complete framework and body of research it can draw on when it's ready to develop a more comprehensive knowledge product in the future.