Definitions

As we work with organizations and collaborate with community partners, we recognize that we may use language differently.  To help you understand how the Brico Fund views the world, the following definitions are provided.

Access: the ability to obtain appropriate services.  Barriers can be economic, linguistic, geographic/transportation, discriminatory, physical, etc.

Advocacy: organizing  to achieve systemic change.

Building capacity: addressing organizational needs through structural change, technical assistance, strengthening fund-raising systems, leadership development, and/or other methods.

Community organizing: organizing that empowers people to challenge the systems that contribute to the root causes of problems through leadership development, group participation and joint action.

Creative spirit: innovative thinking and approaches, start-up activities or projects, a pioneering approach in a range of program areas.

Gender lens: examining a particular issue with a focus on the real life conditions of women and girls and acknowledging that gender is a powerful predictor of experience and opportunity. 

Outcomes: the actual change made in people, an organization, or society as the result of a program.

Policy: general methods and ideals pursued by a governing body, including nonprofit organizations, in carrying out its duties. Policy reform includes shaping new policy, strengthening or implementing practices, or assuring accountability through monitoring for policy effectiveness and improvement.

Qualitative goals: goals that represent a sought-after change in attitude, knowledge, practice.

Quantitative goals: goals that are defined numerically; number of people served, number of programs provided, etc.

Region: the greater Milwaukee community.  Typically, Brico doesn’t fund programs local in nature outside the Greater Milwaukee community.

Reproductive rights: rights that represent the full range of reproductive choices for women and girls, providing access to that information, and supporting a woman's right to make an informed, private decision.  An agency supporting reproductive rights provides a full range of choices and information, regardless of whether or not the organization itself provides reproductive health care services.

Sustainability: returning to the earth as much as or more than is used.

Systemic change advocacy: working in an organized fashion to achieve systemic change.

Systemic change: change that occurs at the policy level, within an organization, network of partners, interest group,  community or other system that addresses the root causes of problems.  Systemic change is often against the status quo. It implies risk taking, and a willingness to challenge rules and old ideas.