Communities of Practice
Every year, NCG offers cohort-based Institutes, trainings, and series for the philanthropic sector. Each with its own goal, they provide opportunities for the NCG community to learn and practice transformative philanthropy.
Communications Institute
Communications professionals, narrative strategists, and storytellers hold immense power and responsibility in shaping just futures. We can’t do this alone. When we feel in our full agency, connected to a values-aligned network, and equipped with practical tools, we can shift the philanthropy ecosystem together. NCG's Communications Institute works to bring an offering for philanthropic communications professionals each year that adjusts based on timely needs for the sector.
New Grantmakers Institute
If you're new to philanthropy, or interested in sharpening your skills, the New Grantmakers Institute: Grantmaking for the 21st Century, helps build your understanding of best practices for ethical and effective grantmaking and helps you place yourself within the ecosystem that you are now a part of.
Rising Leaders Cohort
If you're a rising leader in philanthropy, someone looking for ways to expand your impact within the sector and advance your career, this offering is for you. The 2025 Rising Leaders Cohort offers you a unique opportunity to focus on your leadership journey within philanthropy and build the skills that will take you to the next level.
Foundations of Racial Equity
We cannot shift systems or our organizations without understanding how we got here, nor without looking at ourselves, at our relationships, and at our organizations themselves. This series provides training for philanthropic practitioners to understand how anti-Black racism and white supremacy influence philanthropy and its practices while providing opportunities for action.
Racial Equity Action Institute
One sector on its own cannot solve the challenges of racial inequities. NCG recognizes we can achieve more together by organizing a multi-sector space for discussion, learning, and innovation. Through the Racial Equity Action Institute, participants will gain knowledge, lessons, and tools for making change in their institutions.
Unconscious Whiteness in Philanthropy Cohorts
Join peers in a five-session cohort learning experience to deepen your understanding of how white supremacy manifests in philanthropic organizations and systems.
Funding Strategies to Accelerate Power-building Cohort
Funding Strategies to Accelerate Power-building is a 4-part learning and collaboration series that will help philanthropic grantmakers sharpen their power-building strategies by engaging in 501c(4) funding and complementary 501c(3) funding strategies.
Racial Equity Peer Learning Exchange
The Racial Equity Peer Learning Exchange is created for teams of foundations to participate in cohort learning as a full team. This learning exchange is a Philanthropy California offering with Northern California Grantmakers, Catalyst, and SoCal Grantmakers participating with two member foundations each.
Mission Investing Institute
Mission Investors Exchange (MIE), in partnership with National Center for Family Philanthropy, Northern California Grantmakers, and SoCal Grantmakers, is pleased to offer its signature introductory learning program. Participants learn from leading impact investing professionals, network with industry peers, and apply learnings with fellow philanthropy and finance professionals.
Member Stories: Prioritizing Belonging for Repair and Re-imagining
"In this moment, where there is both possibility and energy for belonging and hurdles that trip us up, change brings both opportunity and challenge. Collectively, we sowed some seeds in that gallery, seeds of healing, liberation, and belonging." - Austin Truong shares their experience building belonging at NCG's 2023 Annual Conference, Mapping our Collective Future.