Every day, more than 50 million Americans live in or near financial crisis, threatening to undercut a future of shared prosperity, greater opportunity, and increased equity. How can funders effectively address this pervasive issue?

In this webinar, we partner with Arabella Advisors to  surface advice from those with deep experience in efforts to address the wealth gap. We will ask them to share successes and lessons learned:

• What solutions can counteract the structures that have precluded far too many people from building economic power over centuries?
• What challenges and opportunities should inform our collective work?
• What role does philanthropy play in scaling solutions?

Speakers:

• Ida Rademacher, Vice President, Aspen Institute & Executive Director, Financial Security Program
• Lisa Mensah, President and CEO of Oregon Community Foundation (OCF)
• James Head, Former President and CEO, East Bay Community Foundation
• David John, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor at AARP, Former Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation

In Partnership With:

Join us for the February meeting of our Peer Learning Circle dedicated specifically to foundations working on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or are open to learning more about how the SDGs can fit within their work.

Guest Speaker: Stefan Cibian, Ph.D., co-founder and executive director of the Făgăraș Research Institute

Connect with community foundation peers to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The group meets monthly via Zoom to discuss SDG hot topics including education, local implementation, community alignment and communication, professional development, data, grantmaking, and more. This community is primarily focused on expanding the SDGs in the United States through community foundation action, but all nationalities are welcome.

By registering for this event, you agree to share some identifying information with the Central Florida Foundation, the partner for this event. 

To do our work well and uphold our promise to society, leaders in philanthropy must try to foster a sense of shared humanity, build common ground, and work collaboratively for the greater good. But how can we do that at a time of incredible division and mistrust? Join us for a conversation to discuss why it is so crucial for philanthropy to bridge differences and how we can build the skills and relationships necessary to do so. Facilitated by Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, this discussion will introduce specific tools and practices for bridging and feature a case study from the funders behind the New Pluralists, a funder collaborative committed to strengthening a culture of pluralism in America.  

Want to go deeper? Consider applying for the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort! 

Speakers:

Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith
Senior Fellow
Greater Good Science Center

Jonathan Gruber
Strategy Lead, Building
Einhorn Collaborative

Rev. Branden Polk, MSW
Director Strategic Partnerships
Fellow, Free Speech and Peace, Stand Together

In Partnership With:

Executive leadership of the Council on Foundations and Hispanics in Philanthropy hosted this kick-off dialogue with foundation executives and senior staff with the U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona. Ulcca Joshi Hansen, Co-Interim Executive Director of Grantmakers for Education, moderated the discussion.

The Secretary shared the Department's priorities and strategic initiatives in 2023, with a special focus on priorities for LatinX students, as well as discussed the ongoing relationship the Department would like to have with philanthropy. 

Future conversations with Department senior program officials will follow in February and March on topics including, diversifying the teacher workforce, college and career pathways, learning acceleration, and early learning.

Speakers

Dr. Miguel Cardona
Secretary
U.S. Department of Education

Shital Shah
Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships
U.S. Department of Education

Dr. Ulcca Joshi Hansen
Co-Interim Executive Director
Grantmakers for Education

Ana Marie Argilagos
Member, Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics
President & CEO
Hispanics in Philanthropy

Kathleen Enright
President & CEO
Council on Foundations

Hosted in Partnership with

Join us for the January meeting of our Peer Learning Circle dedicated specifically for foundations working on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or are open to learning more about how the SDGs can fit within their work.

Guest Speaker: Alex Hiniker, Director of Sustainability Initiatives at Carnegie Mellon University, who is the architect of the Voluntary Local Review

Connect with community foundation peers to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The group meets monthly via Zoom to discuss SDG hot topics including education, local implementation, community alignment and communication, professional development, data, grantmaking, and more. This community is primarily focused on expanding the SDGs in the United States through community foundation action, but all nationalities are welcome.

By registering for this event, you agree to share some identifying information with the Central Florida Foundation, the partner for this event. 

Join us for the November meeting of our Peer Learning Circle dedicated specifically for foundations working on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or are open to learning more about how the SDGs can fit within their work. 
 
Guest Speaker: Kate Landon, Strategic Engagement Director,  Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens US Foundation

Connect with community foundation peers to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The group meets monthly by Zoom to discuss SDG hot topics including education, local implementation, community alignment and communication, professional development, data, grantmaking, and more. This community is primarily focused on expanding the SDGs in the United States through community foundation action, but all nationalities are welcome.

By registering for this event, you agree to share some identifying information with the Central Florida Foundation, the partner for this event. 

Join us for the October meeting of our new Peer Learning Circle dedicated specifically for community foundations who are working on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or are open to learning more about how the SDGs can fit within their work.

Meeting Topic: 17 Rooms Initiative

Guest Speakers: Jacob Taylor, Fellow - Global Economy and Development, Center for Sustainable Development 

Connect with community foundation peers to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The group meets monthly by Zoom to discuss SDG hot topics including education, local implementation, community alignment and communication, professional development, data, grantmaking, and more. This community is primarily focused on expanding the SDGs in the United States through community foundation action, but all nationalities are welcome.

By registering for this event, you agree to share some identifying information with the Central Florida Foundation, the partner for this event. 

Philanthropy has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years in terms of the sources of wealth underlying charitable gifts, the allocation of resources, and its decision-making processes. More than ever, those engaged in philanthropy need an ethical orientation to inform their work.

Combining expertise from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy’s Grantmaking School and the Council on Foundations, this session will:

• Encourage you to reflect on how the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion can inform ethical decision-making
• Enable you to understand to whom and to what you are accountable in your work

• Provide you with practical tools and step-by-step guidance in navigating ethical problems

Instructors

Michael D. Layton, Ph.D.
W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair
Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy

Ben McDearmon
Staff Counsel
Council on Foundations

Who should attend this course?

This course is intended for foundation staff, donors, and others engaged in grantmaking. If you do not fit this profile but are interested in attending, please email Emily.Brenner@gvsu.edu before registering.

This session is presented by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, with special participation by the Council on Foundations.

Join peers from across the country in a discussion focused on:

• Why did your foundation choose to launch a podcast? 
• What are some tactics a foundation can use to grow its podcast audience?
• How does your team select podcast interviewees and how often do you release new episodes?
• What podcast formats/platforms do you utilize?

Peer Discussion Leads

Tim Coons

Communications
Weld Community Foundation

Taylor Mace

Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist
Maine Community Foundation

Philanthropy Exchange is a peer-to-peer platform that connects Council members through shared interests, topics or resources. On the Exchange members can:

• Connect with their peers around the globe to discuss topics of shared interest
• Search an online library of best practices and template documents
• Seek and give candid advice in a private community of their peers
• Find members funding similar issues or performing similar roles in their foundation
• Share resources to develop stronger relationships that advance their work

Learn more about the Exchange by contacting, Tucker Rush.