Changing How We Work Together

August 5, 2025

At the Snow-Redfern Foundation, we care about listening to all voices — especially youth, families, and partners. That’s why we are changing the way we make decisions as a team. We are moving to a new kind of governance called sociocracy. This change helps us share power, build trust, and include more people in the decisions that matter most.

What Is Sociocratic Governance?

Sociocracy is a way to run an organization where everyone’s voice is valued. Instead of one group making all the decisions, sociocracy uses circles — small teams that each focus on part of the work. These circles make decisions together using consent, which means everyone agrees the idea is good enough to try. This helps teams work better, faster, and with more care for each other.

Each circle has its own leader and a member who connects to another circle, so all the teams stay in touch and support the big-picture goals. Everyone gets to be heard, and everyone helps shape the direction of the organization.

Where We Are Now

We are early in this transition. Right now, our board and team are working together to:

  • Create charters for each circle (committee)

  • Practice consent decision-making

  • Build shared understanding of our values and roles

We’ve also started having smaller group discussions to review draft plans, and we’re inviting feedback from all parts of our organization — including youth.

What We Hope to Accomplish

By using sociocracy, we hope to:

  • Make our decisions more inclusive and transparent

  • Give more power to youth, families, and communities

  • Support teamwork across all areas of our work

  • Build a stronger, more connected organization

This new structure reflects what we believe: everyone has something important to share, and we are better when we work together.

We’re excited about this journey and grateful to be learning alongside our team and partners. We believe this shift will help us do even more good for youth across Nebraska and beyond.

About Snow-Redfern Foundation
The Snow-Redfern Foundation believes that all young people deserve the chance to grow, lead, and thrive. We work across Nebraska to support youth through partnerships, grantmaking, and programs that lift up youth voice, community wisdom, and shared leadership. By building strong relationships and investing in youth-led change, we help create a better future for everyone.

To learn more or make a donation, visit www.snowredfern.org.