2023 Annual (Not) Report
NCG’s community of advocates, dreamers, and believers are transforming philanthropy. To support this transformation, we
choose to lean into impact, which comes from directly inspiring, mobilizing, and supporting philanthropy to shift practice.
Together, our community is advancing collective impact that far exceeds what we can do alone. In 2023, the NCG organism
grew. Our membership grew, we expanded our offerings, and created new opportunities for collective transformation. We
have gathered stories and data to highlight what we’re made of and how we moved philanthropy to action.
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communities of practice
546
Individual members came together in the past 16 months through Communities of Practice
20
hours of session time were hosted with over 70 participants during the 2023 New Grantmakers Institute
8
cohorts we designed around power- building, racial equity, impact investing, whiteness, and supporting the new generation of grantmakers
I used to doubt my ability as a leader before I joined the
cohort. This journey of reflection and confidence that
stayed throughout the journey of being part of the Rising
Leaders Cohort where peers showed empathy, positivity, and
passion.
Deeptansh "Deep" Chadha
Associate, Grants and Learning
A powerful learning group where it felt safe to explore
challenging questions together. The deep dive into
content, as well as the time and space to thought partnership
with others on how to apply what we’ve learned, was incredibly
powerful.
Amanda Cohen
The Northern California Impact Investing Practitioners
Group has been great at connecting peers to learn and
collaborate from each other for their social impact work. The
energy and engagement are terrific!
Susan Au
Chief Financial Officer
RLC has been one of the places I was able to be my
authentic self working in this sector. Which is a hard
thing to say out loud. I felt solidarity and hopeful that
others are also pushing to invest more thoughtfully in our
communities and taking care of ourselves in this work.
Diana Jiménez
Program Associate, Homelessness
NCG’s annual New Grantmakers Institute helps build an understanding of best practices for equitable, ethical, and effective grantmaking. In 2023, this learning series included 20 hours of session time with over 70 participants.
annual gatherings
Annual conference
Annual conference
Over 400 people attended the 2023 Annual Conference focused on mapping our collective future. Together we discussed how to move towards a future of regenerative economies, robust democracies, and climate resilient communities.
corporate philanthropy institute
corporate philanthropy institute
More than 200 people gathered at the 2023 Corporate Philanthropy Institute to gain skills and tools to build new standards for the sector.
Strengthening Democracy and Building Black Futures
Strengthening Democracy and Building Black Futures
Almost 300 people joined us during Black History Month for Strengthening Democracy and Building Black Futures.
Rising leaders cohort
Rising leaders cohort
NCG’s Rising Leaders Cohort is a unique opportunity for those in philanthropy to focus on their leadership journey and build the skills that will take them to the next level though cohort learning.
Racial equity action institute
Racial equity action institute
NCG’s Racial Equity Action Institute centers racial equity with an intersectional framework that recognizes the ways race is shaped and informed by class, gender, sexuality, and ability. This cohort learning series connects specialists in racial equity from philanthropy, business, government, and nonprofits to operationalize racial equity in their organizations.
unconscious whiteness in philanthropy
unconscious whiteness in philanthropy
NCG’s Unconscious Whiteness in Philanthropy learning series is for white-identifying foundation staff and leadership, philanthropic-serving professionals, and board members. In 2023 the series brought together two cohorts to review how white supremacy was created and embedded in the philanthropic sector, impacting everything from grantmaking and relationships to management and decision-making.
impact investing practitioners group
impact investing practitioners group
In its inaugural year, NCG’s first-ever Impact Investing Practitioners Group kicked off.
new grantmakers institute
new grantmakers institute
NCG's annual New Grantmakers Institute helps build understanding of best practices for equitable, ethical, and effective grantmaking. In 2023, this learning series included 20 hours of session time with over 70 participants.
Chromosomes ensure that our inner workings proceed smoothly and efficiently. They are responsible for building and maintaining the structure that makes us unique. In 2023, we expanded our offerings, gained talented new team members, and leaned into what makes us who we are as an NCG organism.
Amplifying Narratives & Ideas
Mic Drop Series
Mic Drop Series
is a place to discuss narrative reframes, share new ideas, highlight personal narratives, and provide political education from voices across the social sector.
The practice lab series
The practice lab series
highlights experiments, learnings, and failing forward in philanthropy by highlighting voices in the NCG community.
The asking for a friend (the field) series
The asking for a friend (the field) series
is an advice column for the field of philanthropy. Submissions are open to the philanthropic community and answered by the NCG team.
If we are working toward equity, we must be steadfast in resourcing trans leaders committed to, and creating long-term strategies for, trans people to live with self- determination and full autonomy.
Aldita Gallardo
Donor Advisor, Community Organizer, and Resource Mobilizer
We all have a part to play in social change, transformation, and better futures for youth and all. Determining what part we can all play as individuals and as representatives of our institutions alongside partners can be transformative.
Pui Ling Tam
Program Lead,Walter & Elise Haas Fund
5 Shifts for Philanthropy
power-building cohort
The power-building series at NCG gave us the language and tools to move advocacy into our institutional strategic plan. We are grateful for NCG’s leadership and support as we build our advocacy journey with grantees and colleagues in Sonoma County
Kimberly Bender
Executive Director, Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County
Democracy, Policy, and Power-building
Power-building cohort Organizational Participants
Philanthropy needs to be talking to our donors and the trustees about the importance of policy and systems, not just programs and services. We have to get our institutions comfortable with the uncertainty that is associated with supporting journalism, advocacy, and organizing because the benefits outweigh the risks in terms of what can be achieved.
Fred Blackwell
Chief Executive Officer
Collective resilience initiative
The Collective Resilience Initiative is making space for nonprofit organizations to engage and participate in philanthropy and is sharing education and best practices to move the needle forward in a positive and constructive manner. My involvement on the advisory committee has given me the opportunity to help identify key focus areas to prioritize as we support knowledge creation, capacity building, and increased awareness in the region.
Solomon Belette
Director, Sanford Institute of Philanthropy
Growing team
new NCG STAFF
The nucleus is central, forming the basis for growth and movement. In 2023 our nucleus officially shifted with a refresh to our mission and vision. With racial equity as our North Star, this refresh guides us towards deeper alignment and impact.
MISSION
MISSION
Northern California Grantmakers mobilizes philanthropy to build healthy, thriving, and just communities in Northern California.
VISION
VISION
Philanthropy redistributes resources, capital, and power back to historically marginalized communities leading transformative change.
Organelles act as organs of a cell to generate energy, power, and capacity. Northern California Grantmakers’ membership community of advocates, dreamers, and believers are transforming philanthropy together.
In 2023, our community was made up of:
211
organizations in our membership
4,000+
individuals
11
new organizations
94
events
3,988
registrants
When I began working at the San Francisco Foundation five years ago as an Administrative Assistant, I got a fabulous opportunity to be a part of our NCG Institutional membership. Since then, I’ve benefited immensely from NCG trainings, convenings, mentorship, and network of values aligned resource mobilizers. This past year, I was blessed to join NCG’s Rising Leaders Fellowship and now feel like I have life long comrades, mentors, and chosen family. I truly believe that my growth and integrity as a funder has been positively impacted by my foundation’s connection to NCG!
Charity Whyte
The San Francisco Foundation
2023's New Members
A cell membrane surrounds every living cell. It acts as a pathway for healthy nutrients to enter and as a barrier keeping harmful substances out. NCG’s work to support an equitable region aims to recognize harmful systems and policies, then work to transform and create sustaining practices within philanthropy. In 2023, NCG ramped up its work in climate and disaster resilience, housing, the arts, and stewarding resources back to the lands and communities that have experienced historical inequities.
Arts Loan Fund
2
new Arts Loan Fund Co-chairs
8
individuals
$340,000
Arts Loan Fund loans in 2023
In a peer learning session organized by NCG, it was determined that based on the findings of the report and in the wake of the pandemic, the time was right to move forward with the development of the Common Application for the Arts.
David Blazevich
Fleishhacker Foundation
CLIMATE & DISASTER RESILIENCE
To address these disaster inequities, Philanthropy California, the California Governor’s Office, and Cal OES have cultivated a strong partnership over the last four years to coordinate philanthropic investment in equitable disaster relief and recovery. This new grant is a testament to the ongoing coordination, collaboration, and dual commitment to a resiliency-centered approach to disasters.
This grant will allow Philanthropy California to create a series of trainings for nonprofits and funders to address capacity gaps for nonprofits, expand philanthropic co-investment in California grantees, and continue its role as a trusted platform for publicizing vetted funds for place-based relief, recovery, and resilience.
Through NCG, we were presented with opportunities to accelerate community-led solutions in regions overlooked by traditional philanthropy. Both our organizations understand we cannot use a band aid approach to disaster philanthropy. We need to uplift solutions for long lasting change that centers equity and justice.
Samantha Sandoval
Grantmaking & Special Projects Director, Latino Community Foundation
