Now & Next: BPI Learning Labs

Now & Next: BPI Learning Labs, a four-part series held in June and July 2026.

In the face of democratic backsliding, intersecting crises, and attacks on human rights, the Better Preparedness Initiative (BPI) is taking action. In the past year alone, we have gathered more than 500 funders and activated rapid response coordination on three continents. This culminated in our four-part series, in June and July 2026, that addressed top-of-mind issues around preparedness and offered space to connect, activate, and prepare — rather than react to — future crises.

Two Learning Labs were open to everyone:

• Leading through Attacks on Democracy: Funders’ Role in Defending the Future of Civic Space Around the World (30 June), featuring Stacey Abrams, political leader and bestselling author, and Binaifer Nowrojee, President of Open Society Foundations. Register here. 
• How AI is Shaping the Future of Crisis (16 July), in conversation with Astha Kapoor (Co-Founder at Aapti Institute), Guillermo Beltrà (Europe Director at Luminate), and moderated by Vidushi Marda (Director of Ecosystem Building, AI Collaborative). 

Two additional workshops were available for members of BPI, HRFN, PSFG, and peer networks.

• Articulating and Expanding Our Risk Appetite (16 June) 
• Scenario Planning for Better Preparedness (17 June)

These two hands-on sessions are designed to create an interactive space to consider how risk appetite can be unpacked, balanced, and articulated and are open to BPI, HRFN, PSFG, and peer network members.

Together, participants will gain a clearer understanding of how to navigate risk appetite, a methodology for thinking forward, and a more concrete picture of what organizational preparedness entails. The workshops will draw on real-world context analysis and frameworks developed with foundations actively moving money for human rights.

To maximize the value of the series, we encourage the same participants to attend both sessions. We recommend cross-team participation from both grantmaking/operations/legal teams and program teams and suggest 2-3 participants per organization.

Space is limited, so sign up soon. These are intentionally small, participatory workshops and we expect attendees to stay for the whole 90 minutes.

Please register before 10 June.