On August 14th, Augusta Health and The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge co-hosted the fourth annual Shenandoah Valley Regional Funders Gathering, led by the Virginia Funders Network (VFN). Now in its fifth year, VFN continues to bring funders together across Virginia to share ideas, strengthen collaboration, and explore new ways to serve communities more effectively.

This year’s Regional Funders Gathering session in the valley, “Planning When the Future Is Foggy: Scenario Thinking for Strategic Clarity,” encouraged participants to think differently about the unknown. Instead of seeing uncertainty as something to fear, the gathering highlighted how it can be used as a strategic advantage-one that opens the door to new ideas, partnerships, and possibilities.

Julie Campbell, Director of Partnership Engagement with Armstrong McGuire and a VFN Partner Member, led the session. She introduced the concept of scenario thinking, a planning approach that helps leaders prepare for a variety of potential futures. Scenario thinking moves beyond focusing on just one expected outcome and instead encourages teams to imagine multiple possibilities, uncover risks, and spot opportunities for resilience and growth.

Facing the Fog Together

Organizations worked together in small groups to walk through a series of thought-provoking scenarios. These exercises highlighted how quickly circumstances can shift and how both challenges and opportunities can emerge in unexpected ways. The conversations explored how even in difficult times, some of the most meaningful collaborations are formed. Likewise, participants reflected on how moments of growth and stability can also bring sudden change. Through scenario planning, organizations can be better prepared for both ends of the spectrum.

Attendees left the gathering with more than just ideas, carrying forward a practical set of tools and insights. They gained a new lens for viewing uncertainty as a strategic tool, frameworks that could be tailored to their own organizational contexts, and ideas for building shared understanding and alignment within their teams. The session also provided prompts and resources to help organizations begin applying scenario thinking right away.

The Shenandoah Valley Regional Funders Gathering once again demonstrated the value of coming together as a regional network. By leaning into the fog of uncertainty and exploring what might be possible, funders and partners are better equipped to chart a path forward with clarity, creativity, and collaboration in support of their communities.