Applying Universal Goals and Targeted Strategies for Effective Grantmaking

Esra Khalil

Senior Program Officer

Community Foundation for Southwest Washington

This year, while working in my yard, I found myself reflecting on the parallels between gardening and grantmaking. Both begin with care and intention, guided by the hope of growth.

In gardening, the goal is not only to keep plants alive but to cultivate a diverse, flourishing ecosystem. Similarly, grantmakers like the Community Foundation nurture communities so they can grow stronger and more vibrant.

While gardeners measure success in the subtle language of nature, grantmakers look at community vital signs. These aren’t merely numbers, but indicators that the conditions for growth are present and that collective flourishing is possible.

Universal goals and targeted strategies matter

Just as every gardener tends their soil with the same hopes—healthy roots, plant growth and strong yields—every community is guided by a set of common goals. No matter where we live, people aspire to feel a sense of safety and belonging, to have opportunities and to leave a better future for the next generation.

These universal goals are important. They define our shared values and aspirations for what it means to thrive together; such as:

Stable Housing: Safe, affordable housing options for all, costing less than 30% of a household’s gross monthly income.
Academic Achievement: Every student completes high school with a diploma and the access and resources needed to continue their education if desired.
Economic Mobility: All people can improve their financial situation over time through accessible education, stable employment and wealth-building opportunities.
Social Well-Being: Everyone feels connected, builds positive relationships and has opportunities to contribute to their community.

A major challenge to achieving universal goals is that not everyone starts from the same place or faces the same barriers. This holds true in the world of gardening as well. What nourishes one plant may not suit another. While every plant shares basic needs—water, nutrients, sunlight, and space—each also requires care tailored to its unique characteristics to thrive.

In grantmaking, we also recognize that communities include people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. That’s why targeted strategies are so critical. Targeted strategies are like the care a gardener gives to each plant based on its unique needs. While every plant—or every person—shares some basic requirements, the conditions for growth aren’t the same for all.

Targeted strategies provide the specific support, resources and attention needed to help each individual or group overcome barriers and thrive.

In grantmaking, this means tailoring programs and investments so that everyone receives a fair opportunity to achieve universal goals. Targeted strategies and universal goals form an innovative framework called targeted universalism, which we use as a guide for our strategic grantmaking programs.

What is Targeted Universalism?

Setting aside the gardening analogy for a minute, let’s get into the weeds of what targeted universalism is and how it works in real life.

Targeted universalism is a framework developed by john a. powell that is rooted in social science. His approach aims to achieve universal goals through targeted strategies that address the unique needs of different groups. To go deeper, you can watch this explainer video from the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley.

So, how does targeted universalism work in the real world? Let’s look at our previous example of academic achievement.

Set a universal or shared goal
Every student successfully completes high school with a diploma
Identify how different groups are situated relative to the goal
Foster youth, students experiencing housing instability, students of color and students with disabilities are less likely to complete high school due to systemic inequities and reduced access to academic and social supports.

Learn how we put Targeted Universalism into practice with Priority Populations ➔
Understand the structures and barriers that create those differences
Issues like underfunded schools, a lack of culturally responsive curriculum, unstable housing or family situations that interrupt schooling, behavioral health challenges, language barriers and other inadequate accommodations.
Develop targeted strategies for each group to reach the universal goal
Establish programs or initiatives that provide wraparound services like tutoring and basic needs support, culturally responsive curriculum and teaching, language support and bilingual family engagement, and teacher training to promote trauma-informed and inclusive practices.

While simplified, this example illustrates how targeted universalism recognizes diverse needs and strives to create solutions that enhance educational achievement for all.

We see this playing out through the work of culturally specific grantees like LNESC Vancouver, which provides one-on-one academic support to underrepresented high school students in the Evergreen School District. Through free tutoring, career guidance, test preparation, college tours and summer enrichment programs, participating students improve both achievement and engagement scores. This year, 83 percent of LNESC Vancouver graduates are college-bound, far outpacing the 2023 district-wide rate of 47 percent. Targeted strategies make successes like this possible, moving our communities closer to universal goals.

Targeted strategies help everyone flourish

Coming full circle, we all want to live in a flourishing community. Just like a healthy garden, this means distributing our resources in ways that increase access and advance progress for everyone.

And it’s not just theoretical. There are many examples of how tailored approaches have led to better outcomes for everyone in southwest Washington.

Multilingual Emergency Alerts designed to reach non-English speakers have created clearer, more effective communication for everyone.
School Breakfast Programs initially targeted at ensuring low-income children have access to breakfast improve academic performance and attendance for all students who take part.
Curb Cuts mandated for people with physical disabilities, now benefit everyone—from parents pushing strollers to people moving packages or luggage.
Flexible Work Arrangements are policies designed for parents and caregivers that help everyone by improving work-life balance and productivity.

Targeted universalism leads to solutions that recognize the dignity of every individual. So, by building tailored strategies, we’re building a flourishing future for all.

We’d love to hear what that means for you and how it might improve the causes you’re most passionate about. Email us at [email protected] and let’s keep growing together.