WHAT’S NEXT?

We are profoundly proud of the work that we have done over the last eight years. We have accomplished far more than our small team ever expected. But we are also pragmatic. We are at a decidedly different moment, in the world and in the field, than any of us would have hoped for. Our commitment to adaptation and flexibility, to continually looking for our best opportunities to deliver value to the field, now compels us to ask hard questions about how to move into the future, including what aspects of current work to keep, what to spin off to others, what to sunset, and even what new work we might take on that we have not done before.

Here are some of the things we have illuminated about our approach but are now reevaluating:

Our framework for success: Is it time to refine this based on current needs and dynamics in the field?

Our strategies for achieving the goals in that framework: Is it time to expand or narrow our programming? To rethink how we use our resources to achieve our goals?

Our structure: Might N Square accelerate success by merging with others or spinning off some of our programs and rethinking how we operate as a sponsored project versus a standalone 501(c)3?

We asked for your feedback and heard from over 50 individuals, including long-time nuclear professionals, network members from other fields, funders, and grantees. We will take all that you told us into account as we make these decisions. Then, in a short follow-up to this report, we will share what we have decided to do next and how your feedback influenced our plans.

We feel honored to do this work, helping to bring innovation and change to a field and a community whose success is vital to all of our futures.

Acknowledgments

We’d like to thank the many people who have contributed ideas, energy, and support to N Square’s work, including our grantees, members of the N Square Forum, and N Square Innovators Network fellows

Reynaldo Anderson, Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM)

Emma Belcher, Ploughshares Fund

Pupul Bisht, N Square

Lonny Avi Brooks, Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM)

Donna Broughan, N Square

Lyndon Burford, N Square

Paul Carroll, Ploughshares Fund and N Square

Cristopher Cruz, N Square

Michelle Dover, Ploughshares Fund

Megan Garcia, Hewlett Foundation

Alexa Gregory, N Square

Bukola Jejeloye, Skoll Foundation

Theo Kalionzes, MacArthur Foundation

Karim Kamel, Carnegie Corporation of New York

Sara Kutchesfahani, N Square and Ploughshares Fund

Jewlya Lynn, PolicySolve

Bruce Lowry, Skoll Foundation

Morgan Matthews, N Square

Danielle McLaughlin, N Square

Karl Mill, Mill Law Center

Brian G. Payne, aton.design

Carl Robichaud, Carnegie Corporation of New York

Joan Rohlfing, Nuclear Threat Initiative

Angela Schlater, MacArthur Foundation

Tom Weis, Altimeter Design Group

Peter Waring, N Square

Philip Yun, Ploughshares Fund