Building a Thriving Region: Moving to Action Roundtable
"We are the ones we have been waiting for” is true for almost everything we do in our fight for equity and justice here in the Bay Area and beyond. As we seek to dismantle some of the inequitable and short-sighted funding practices of philanthropy, the same sentiment is true. Many community leaders across Northern California have been calling for a system shift for decades. And now is the time to take action.
Here’s what’s happened recently:
- In August 2023, United Way Bay Area (UWBA) released a report on philanthropic funding disparities across eight of the Bay Area counties. This report builds on other countless reports, examining the inequitable funding in the Bay Area and beyond.
- Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) hosted a session at their Annual Conference in June 2024 on how we build an equitable thriving region by addressing our region’s interconnectedness and historical disinvestment.
- At a virtual discussion in July 2024, funders and community based organizations explored how funders can expand their reach, how funders can support a strong nonprofit ecosystem for overlooked regions, and steps philanthropy can take to increase overall giving.
Reflecting on these events, we’ve learned that funders are interested in the expansion of funding in new areas to help move philanthropic dollars where they are needed most.
Join UWBA and NCG for an in-person roundtable discussion to move us into action and ask:
- Who among us have made shifts in our geographic focus to concentrate on under resourced areas? What can we learn from them?
- What is keeping the rest of us from making those shifts and what can be done?
- How can we build a movement of Northern CA funders actively responding to community asks?
We invite funders exploring, actively expanding their philanthropic reach, or just beginning to dip into the idea to join us. This is an opportunity to listen, learn, and discuss how to make these shifts at your organization. We’ll hear the experiences of S.H. Cowell, Magic Cabinet, and Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund followed by space for participants to plan together and make this work actionable during roundtable discussions.
Speakers
Anu Cairo
Anu Cairo
Dr. Anu Cairo serves as Vice President Grants Programs at the S.H. Cowell Foundation. Dr. Cairo joined the Cowell Foundation’s program team in 2018. Previously, she served as Bay Area Director at the New Teacher Center, a national non-profit organization that works with school districts to build and sustain robust programs for teachers and school leaders to improve their instructional practice.
Dr. Cairo also served as Senior Program Officer at Walter & Elise Haas Fund and Program Officer at the Bechtel Foundation. Earlier in her career, she worked in public school districts on the East and West coasts. Her prior roles included serving as Special Assistant to the Superintendent in San Francisco; establishing and directing the Washington, DC public school district’s Office of Parent Affairs; and serving as a Family Support Worker in the Seattle public schools.
Dr. Cairo completed doctorate and master’s degrees in Administration, Planning and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She also holds a bachelor in arts from Swarthmore College.
Stephanie Martinez
Stephanie Martinez
Stephanie Martinez is the Program Manager for the Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund. Since 2020, she has been part of the Fund’s shift to focus on students and families in Sonoma County and its new efforts nationally to strengthen and protect our democracy.
As a daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, she has dedicated her career to advancing immigrant justice and belonging. Her past work focused on mobilizing philanthropic resources toward disaster relief for undocumented families and immigrant legal services. She previously held posts with Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, hospitality, and at a university procurement office.
Gloria Upchurch
Gloria Upchurch
As the Bay Area Engagement Officer, Gloria specializes in building long-term nonprofit partnerships. Before joining the Magic Cabinet team, Gloria developed and managed chronic kidney disease prevention programs around the globe. Through a proactive approach, her work improved awareness of the disease and increased high-risk communities’ access to intervention strategies. Gloria continues her global health work through her nonprofit and its work bringing clean delivery kits to rural African clinics.
Gloria is passionate about art that is deeply rooted in the chronicling of culture and everyday life. She holds a bachelor’s degree and studied Documentary & Fine Art Photography.