To rise to the challenges facing our international community, the Global Center’s 2021–2023 Strategic Plan sets out four priorities for our next phase of growth and development:
The pandemic, rising authoritarianism, and climate destruction illuminate the urgency of new solutions to global challenges. While we continue to focus the majority of our investment on our core portfolio of programs that address the root causes of violent extremism, the Global Center is broadening its programming to ensure we remain responsive to evolving security dynamics. This involves addressing violent right-wing extremism and racialized policing practices alongside risks including ecological threats, public health crises, disinformation, and cyber insecurity.
In order to meet our goals for expansion, we will drive innovative public-private and multisectoral partnerships—capitalizing on the possibilities offered by these synergies. We will continue to position ourselves as a key contributor shaping policy, notably at the United Nations and among multilaterals institutions, while guaranteeing that civil society remains at the center of our efforts.
The Global Center has an efficient business model that draws on a steady pipeline of government grants, a small core team, and a wide network of experts. It is critical that we continue to increase and diversify our unrestricted funding sources through substantial private sector investments.
The bulk of our funding comes from project grants from security and development divisions within ministries of foreign affairs, which has permitted us to create a strong methodology and wealth of success stories. Yet traditional models of foreign assistance simply do not meet the needs of conflict prevention organizations like ours. Due to austere funding restrictions and unrealistic expectations, these grants rarely cover the full operating costs to realize programming. This reality is captured by the “starvation cycle” that precludes nonprofit institutions from properly investing in basic infrastructure, let alone the flexibility to innovate and experiment.
The Global Center therefore aims to raise at least $250,000 in unrestricted funds annually by 2024 from a varied funding pool of corporate, foundation, and individual supporters, in addition to its government grants. A flexible revenue portfolio will position the Global Center to achieve greater independence and agility long-term.
We will enrich the governance of the Global Center through continued growth of our Board of Directors, from seven members in early 2021, to twelve in 2022, and fifteen in 2023. Recruitment will prioritize diversity and global representation to ensure our Board reflects the communities where we work. We will bring on additional Board members from across the private sector, particularly in the fields of tech, finance, and media. This will strengthen the Global Center’s influence, fundraising capacity, and long-term development.
As an organization that is anti-racist, anti-homophobic, anti-sexist, anti-ageist, and anti-prejudice, we are committed to ensuring that our staff, management, and Board of Directors are comprised of individuals of unique lived experiences and expertise that support these core values.
Recognizing that the Global Center’s staff and network of experts are its most valuable resource, we will commit significant investment to the professional development of all staff. We also maintain four staff-led committees to address racism, power, and privilege in our recruitment and retention, culture, external communications, and policies and operations.
Lastly, we will further globalize our operations by growing our presence in Nairobi and opening an office in Southeast Asia, run by experts from these regions.