Foundation for Systemic Change

What Foundation for Systemic Change does

The Foundation for Systemic Change (FSC) is a private, family-operated non-profit foundation headquartered in Washington, D.C., co-founded by John Heffernan and Margie Palm. Its core function is grantmaking: FSC provides flexible seed funding ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support engagement projects — documentaries, podcasts, articles, essays, theater, books, and music — that highlight economic, political, social, racial, ethnic, and environmental inequities and include a systemic approach as integral to their strategy. The foundation is differentiated by its explicit requirement that funded projects address root causes rather than symptoms, reflecting Heffernan's 40+ years of experience across RFK Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's Genocide Prevention Initiative.

Beyond direct grantmaking, FSC operates three flagship award programs in partnership with established media institutions: the Documentary Film Award (Systemic Change Award) with SIMA Studios, the Fred Ross Student Journalism Competition with the National Scholastic Press Association, and the Systemic Change Photography Prize (ZEKE Award) with the Social Documentary Network. The foundation also co-produces original content, including the 'American Agitators' documentary premiered at Cinequest in March 2025. Its 14-member advisory team includes former executive directors of Amnesty International USA and Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist, and a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State.

FSC's revenue model is donation-based (family foundation), with no commercial products, fee-generating services, or investment vehicles disclosed. Geographic operations span 5 continents across at least 10 countries, including Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia, Colombia, the Philippines, India, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, executed through 14+ strategic partnerships with NGOs, media organizations, and educational institutions. The foundation does not use proprietary technology — it operates a Squarespace website and email-based communications — and has no AI, API, or data infrastructure. FSC is entirely mission-driven with no equity ownership, parent company, or subsidiary relationships.

Name

Foundation for Systemic Change

Legal name

Foundation for Systemic Change

Website

https://foundationforsystemicchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Foundation for Systemic Change is a Washington, D.C.-based family foundation that provides $5,000–$20,000 grants and awards to documentary filmmakers, photographers, student journalists, and nonprofit partners producing systemic change storytelling across human rights, social justice, and environmental equity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy & Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Grant funding programs
• Philanthropic foundation
• Social justice advocacy
• Humanitarian grantmaking
• Documentary film awards

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding from Donors: As a family foundation, FSC funds its operations and grant programs through donations from its founders and supporters. Provides flexible grant funding (from $5,000 to $20,000) to support engagement projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Foundation for Systemic Change (FSC) is a family foundation that provides flexible grant funding ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support engagement projects, including documentaries, podcasts, articles, essays, theater, books, and music, that highlight economic, political, social, racial, ethnic, and environmental inequities and incorporate a systemic approach as part of their strategy. In parallel, FSC co-administers three awards with established media organizations—the Documentary Film Award (Systemic Change Award) with SIMA Studios, the Fred Ross Student Journalism Competition with the National Scholastic Press Association, and the Systemic Change Photography Prize with the Social Documentary Network.

Product overview

The Foundation for Systemic Change operates as a family foundation offering grant funding programs and awards. The core offering is the Grant Funding Program providing $5,000 to $20,000 in flexible funding for engagement projects (documentaries, podcasts, articles, essays, theater, books, music) that address inequities through systemic approaches. Supporting this mission are three major award programs: the Documentary Film Award (Systemic Change Award) in partnership with SIMA Studios, the Fred Ross Student Journalism Competition with the National Scholastic Press Association, and the Systemic Change Photography Prize with the Social Documentary Network. The organization also produces the American Agitators documentary. All offerings are centered on supporting storytelling that drives sustainable, systemic social change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Systemic Change Award: A partnership with SIMA Studios awarding documentaries that best depict structural, sustainable long-term solutions for positive change.
• Fred Ross Student Journalism Competition
• Systemic Change Photography Prize
• Documentary Film Award

Products and services

• Grant Funding Program Flexible grant funding (ranging from $5,000 to $20,000) to support engagement projects including documentaries, podcasts, articles, essays, theater, books, and music that highlight economic, political, social, racial, ethnic, and environmental inequities with a systemic approach to solutions. Targeted at organizations, filmmakers, and creators working on systemic change.
• Systemic Change Documentary Film Award An award in partnership with SIMA Studios recognizing films that depict how structural, sustainable long-term solutions create positive change. Includes a $2,500 prize and international exposure through SIMA's distribution platforms. Targeted at documentary filmmakers addressing systemic social issues.
• Fred Ross Student Journalism Competition Annual journalism competition for high school journalists partnering with the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), recognizing work addressing systemic issues in their communities with prizes for various categories. Targeted at high school student journalists covering community-level systemic change.
• Systemic Change Photography Prize (ZEKE Award) Photography prize in partnership with the Social Documentary Network (SDN) recognizing compelling visual stories on sustainable solutions to pressing issues. Includes the $2,500 ZEKE Award for Systemic Change honoraria. Targeted at documentary photographers documenting systemic changes and sustainable solutions.
• American Agitators Documentary Award-winning documentary film produced in partnership with activist Fred Ross Jr. and filmmaker Ray Telles, illustrating how collective action can combat racism, bigotry, and greed, featuring the organizing teachings of Fred Ross Sr. Targeted at general audiences and activist communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 64,000 participants in CBS Rwanda sociotherapy program featured in award-winning photography project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2024FSC is partnering with BAI and IJDH to drive systemic change in Haiti. The partnership launches a series of webinars featuring conversations between Haitian and non-Haitian advocates about ending international interference. Issues addressed include foreign military intervention, gender justice, climate change, and justice system deterioration.
• Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIJDH is the US counterpart to BAI, helping Haitian activists and grassroots groups enforce internationally recognized human rights. Combines advocacy between Haiti and international community, prioritizing collaboration and coalition-building to address equity, justice, and rights.
• SIMA STUDIOScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with SIMA to establish a 'Systemic Change' category in SIMA's international media competition. The 'Systemic Change Award' includes $2,500 and international exposure for the film that best depicts structural, sustainable long-term solutions creating positive change.
• Social Documentary Network (SDN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC and SDN created the Systemic Change Photography Prize (5th year partnership). SDN is a global community of 8,500 documentary photographers and related professionals. Awards include $2,500 ZEKE Award for Systemic Change and ZEKE Award for Documentary Photography.
• VII FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with VII Foundation on 'Imagine: Reflections on Peace' photo exhibit opening in Sarajevo. The traveling exhibit engages youth in regional dialogue about post-conflict society, bringing together ethnically and religiously diverse young adults to tackle corruption, women's representation, justice, and reconciliation.
• Hope of Family (Rwanda)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC works with Hope of Family to reduce family poverty by challenging traditional education funding models. The holistic family investment approach counters school-dropout and family challenges, improving socio-economic capacity of all family members.
• MemriasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with Memria's Afghan Voices project to strengthen diasporic civil society by developing communication channels among fragmented Afghan communities. Uses personal stories to build empathy, shared identity, and support civil society in exile.
• Creative VisionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with Creative Visions to support creative activists who ignite positive change through storytelling, impact media, art, education and technology. Programs include CV Impact Media, Planet 911, Rock Your World, and Dan Eldon Legacy, creating positive systemic change for millions in over 35 countries.
• Fred Ross Jr.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with longtime activist Fred Ross Jr. and filmmaker Ray Telles on documentary 'American Agitators' about legendary activist Fred Ross Sr. to inspire a new generation of activists to organize for systemic change.
• Michael TylersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with award-winning author Michael Tyler whose children's books 'The Skin You Live In' and 'Mirror Face' address race, discrimination, and self-love. Books are required reading in LA Public Schools and Portland Public Schools.
• KangJae "Jerry" LeesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with NC State professor on book and video about how historical racism has shaped US public parks as 'White space.' Project aims to describe methods to rectify this history and make America's outdoors more inclusive.
• AVIARD InspiressecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with UK-based social enterprise founded by award-winning filmmaker Amani Simpson to empower systemically disadvantaged youth through enrichment activities, digital media, and personal development.
• Program of Action for Sustainable Development (PADS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partners with PADS on documentary promoting equality for women and girls in DRC villages. Film includes interviews with women who broke free from limiting cultural behaviors, used to encourage community dialogue and influence policymakers.
• National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC partnered with NSPA to create The Fred Ross Systemic Change Journalism Competition, empowering young journalists to report on tangible systemic strategies addressing pressing challenges like climate change, polarization, and democracy defense.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arcus Foundation: Arcus Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation supporting social justice and conservation causes globally. Its operational model (family-led foundation funding systemic-change initiatives) and mission scope closely parallel FSC's approach.
• Humanity United: Humanity United is a foundation focused on human trafficking, forced labor, and human rights — the same thematic space where FSC operates. The two share an explicit focus on systemic approaches to root causes, and FSC advisor Ame Sagiv previously directed Humanity United's anti-trafficking program.
• Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights: RFK Human Rights is an international human rights organization where FSC founder John Heffernan previously served as executive director. Both organizations share an explicit focus on systemic approaches to human rights and operate in the same advocacy ecosystem, with overlapping leadership and grantee networks.
• Creative Visions: Creative Visions is a nonprofit foundation supporting creative activists using media, storytelling, and the arts to drive social change — almost identical to FSC's engagement-project thesis. The founder of Creative Visions (Kathy Eldon) is also an FSC advisor, evidencing deep operational overlap.
• NoVo Foundation: NoVo Foundation is a private family foundation focused on advancing systemic change in areas including gender equity, social justice, and youth empowerment — overlapping FSC's mission areas with comparable grantmaking approach.
• Wellspring Philanthropic Fund: Wellspring Philanthropic Fund is a private grantmaking foundation focused on human rights, social justice, and systemic change globally. Its mission and grantmaking posture are closely aligned with FSC's, though Wellspring operates at significantly larger scale and with a broader portfolio.
• Libra Foundation: Libra Foundation is a private foundation supporting progressive social justice, environmental, and human rights causes through grants to nonprofits. Its grantmaking posture and focus on systemic issues make it comparable to FSC, though at materially larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: Open Society Foundations is a major global grantmaker focused on human rights, democratic governance, and social justice — directly overlapping FSC's mission areas. Both fund systemic change rather than direct service delivery, though OSF operates at multibillion-dollar scale across many more regions.
• Tides Foundation: Tides Foundation is a major US philanthropic partner that channels donor-advised and pooled funds to progressive social justice, human rights, and environmental causes. It is comparable to FSC in funding model and mission alignment, though operating at materially larger scale and with broader thematic scope.
• Ford Foundation: The Ford Foundation is one of the largest global philanthropic institutions, with major programs in social justice, human rights, and systemic inequality. FSC operates in the same social-justice grantmaking space but at a vastly smaller scale and with a tighter focus on media-driven engagement projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-foundation-for-systemic-change

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Systemic Change