Checklist: Building a Knowledge Sharing Culture

Use the items below to cultivate a thriving knowledge sharing culture at your organization. Which of the items are in place at your foundation? Which could be established in the near term or in the longer term?

• Our foundation explicitly values knowledge sharing.
• Foundation leaders model and discuss with staff the integral role of knowledge sharing in conducting the foundation’s work.
• Knowledge sharing is understood across the foundation as a key part of the job, not secondary to grantmaking.
• Knowledge sharing practices are integrated throughout our work, not reliant on a staff member to enforce them.
• We share many different types of knowledge.
• Position descriptions and performance reviews emphasize knowledge sharing.
• Our culture is one of experimentation; failure—and learning from that failure—is expected.
• We promote knowledge sharing across the philanthropic sector.