Search Results

“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.

We are so excited to invite you to participate in an interactive, facilitated dialogue between nonprofits and funders, diving into the most pressing challenges facing the nonprofit workforce – and to consider real solutions for change.

We all know that the nonprofit sector is staffed by a skilled, passionate and powerful workforce. And yet, the workforce faces major challenges, including burnout, recruitment, retention, and providing living wages. There have been various efforts in California and across the nation to reform government contracting and encourage funders to adopt funding the “full costs” of grantees. These efforts have faced major obstacles, and yet nonprofits continue to work unabated to fulfill missions that enrich communities. The time is now for nonprofits and funders to come together to reimagine the sector, to support thriving and equitable nonprofit jobs and workplaces with the capacity to strengthen their communities.

Stories of companies retreating from targeted programs, rebranding programs, changing messaging, or taking a “quiet action” approach due to fear of backlash abound in the field. While companies are working to meet the unique needs of communities with their philanthropic efforts, this fear is directly impacting corporate philanthropy and CSR efforts.

Navigating philanthropy requires more than a deep understanding on how to use equitable grantmaking practices, it requires a holistic approach. New Grantmakers Institute (NGI) supports new grantmakers to sharpen their analysis on the role of philanthropy in social change movements, root into their purpose and work towards impact, and cultivate a sense of belonging, in their institutions and the field at large.

The Build Back Better Act has the potential to help the nation grow, as framed by the White House, “from the bottom and middle-out" by providing families with funding for childcare, expanding access to affordable housing, education, and health care, and enforcing tax laws on the extremely wealthy.

2024 promises to be a momentous year for democracy—locally, nationally, and globally. Over 4 billion people are living in countries with major elections this year. In the United States, we will also face familiar but obstinate challenges, including the dearth of local news and youth disaffection with voting and institutions. We will also face challenges that are new in this digital era, namely disinformation turbocharged by generative AI that has enormous power to deceive voters, undermine trust, and destabilize our information ecosystems.