Appreciative Inquiry with RAFT
Transforming Advocate Workplaces through Positivity & Possibility
You’ve heard of strategic planning. You’ve heard of team retreats. But have you ever experienced change that actually feels good while it’s happening?
That’s where Appreciative Inquiry (AI) comes in.
At RAFT, we use this powerful, strengths-based approach to help teams working in sexual and domestic violence (SV/DV) organizations build healthier, more sustainable, and human-centered workplaces.
So… what is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a different way of doing change.
Instead of asking, “What’s broken and how do we fix it?” AI asks, “What’s working—and how can we do more of that?”
Through curiosity, storytelling, and collaborative reflection, your team will:
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Identify its strengths
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Clarify its vision
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Create a plan rooted in what people love about working together, not just what needs to be “fixed”
It’s energizing. It’s community-building. And yes, it still gets things done.
Why RAFT uses AI
Let’s be real—advocacy work is meaningful, but it’s also exhausting. Traditional approaches to solving workplace challenges often focus on stress, burnout, and everything that’s going wrong. But constantly living in “problem mode” wears people down.
That’s why we flipped the script.
RAFT uses Appreciative Inquiry to help advocates:
- Reconnect to why they do this work
- Strengthen team connection and morale
- Discover what already works—and use it to spark change
- Build solutions that are practical, energizing, and sustainable
- Leave with a clear vision and a doable plan (that doesn’t add more to your plate)
What it looks like
RAFT’s Appreciative Inquiry Facilitation is flexible, interactive, and completely free of cost. Whether you prefer a focused half-day session or shorter workshops spread out over time, we’ll adapt the experience to fit your team’s goals, size, and capacity.
Each facilitation is designed to be empowering and energizing—no lectures, no burnout. Just meaningful conversations, collaborative visioning, and practical next steps rooted in what already works well in your organization.
By the end, you’ll walk away with:
✅ A clear, shared vision for the future
✅ A list of strengths-based, actionable projects
✅ A renewed sense of purpose and momentum—without overwhelming your team
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this for?
Anyone working in a sexual or domestic violence organization! We work with coalitions, shelters, community orgs, government agencies, military programs—you name it. If you’re supporting survivors, we’re here for you.
Q: Do we have to be dealing with “big” problems to benefit?
Not at all. AI is for teams who are struggling or teams who are doing well and want to grow even stronger. It’s great for times of transition, planning, or re-aligning your values.
Q: Will we still talk about challenges?
Yes—AI doesn’t ignore problems. It just approaches them through a strengths-based lens. Instead of “What’s wrong with our culture?” we might ask, “When have we felt most connected as a team—and how can we get back there?”
Q: What’s the time commitment?
We’re flexible! You can choose a single half-day session or break it into a few shorter workshops—whatever works best for your team’s schedule, size, and goals. We’ll tailor the format to fit your needs.
Q: How do we get started?
We recommend booking a 1-hour introduction meeting for your leadership team. It’s a no-pressure way to learn more and see if AI is a good fit for your org. You can email us at outreach@raftcares.org or fill out the interest form below!
"Our advocates gained an understanding of their right to set boundaries and demand respect for them. RAFT was engaging and thought-provoking and I would highly recommend this workshop.”
– Shelley Bridges, Manager of Community Involvement and Development
✨ Want to learn more about RAFT’s Appreciative Inquiry? ✨
Fill out this interest form and our outreach team will contact you or you can schedule a zoom meeting with us here.