Sheila McKechnie Foundation

Who we are

Part think tank, trainer, convener, and champion, SMK is facilitating a new approach to civil society – the people and organisations outside of government and business

Change often begins in civil society. We believe it has the potential to drive deeper and longer-lasting change – in one person’s life or our entire society – if it works at its best and without unreasonable constraint. We call this Social Power. We unleash civil society’s Social Power by being curious about how change happens, by building its confidence and effectiveness, and by championing campaigners and campaigning.

We are passionate, single-minded, and tenacious. We think like campaigners: we analyse problems, find ways to overcome them, and bring people with us. We use our independence to stand up against those who put barriers and constraints in the way. Social justice drives our approach, and we are committed to using our own power to create greater equity. We work right across civil society, from those campaigning from their front rooms to those in the offices of global organisations.

Campaigners need someone to support and campaign for them too. And that’s SMK.