Three Horizons Framework

I was recently introduced to the Three Horizons Framework.
In essence, the framework maps the system that is dominant now but losing its fit with a changing world (horizon 1), the future we actually want (horizon 3), and the messy middle of innovation in between (horizon 2).

So what does this look like at the intersection of AI and philanthropy?

🔸 Horizon 1: Funding flows to whoever has the relationships and the capacity to write the best proposal. You have to have resources to access resources.

🔸 Horizon 2: Where we are with AI right now, the messy middle where nonprofits are using AI to write grants and apply for more grants, resulting in → AI slop proposals overwhelming funders.

This overwhelm is shifting philanthropy dynamics, like first-come first-served proposal reviews, invite-only cycles, and favoring previous grantees.

The grant proposal is losing its efficacy to connect these two sides, and to distribute funding equitably.

🔸 Horizon 3: A sector where the grant proposal doesn't exist at all, where technology can curate connections between nonprofits and funders.

No matter what the future brings, technology can merely act as a starting point for meaningful connections. It is relationships that will carry through from this horizon to the next.