BY TFN Staff
TFN’s Urban Water Funders 2026 Annual Meeting will bring together funders from across the country for an intimate, engaging and interactive convening designed to spark new ideas, build stronger partnerships and explore collaborations that meet the needs of the moment.
Water issues have a profound impact on civic life, public health, climate resilience and economic justice, especially for those in historically marginalized and vulnerable communities. Together, we’ll explore where philanthropic resources can have the greatest impact and how funders can better work together to address the opportunities and challenges our communities face.
So who will be joining us in Houston February 9-11?
Read on for agenda highlights to learn more about the thought-provoking lineup of featured speakers, strategic conversations and place-based learning we have in store. We’ll also incorporate participatory facilitation methods to create a candid space to ask pressing questions and share feedback with trusted peers. And we’ll offer plenty of time for moments of inspiration, connection and joy, including our opening night dinner and lively “Fast Pitch” funder reception.
Feb. 9 | Day One kicks off with powerful insights from nationally-acclaimed environmental justice leader Dr. Robert Bullard, founding director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice and distinguished professor of urban planning and environmental policy at Texas Southern University. He’ll join us as we explore how we, as funders and partners, are meeting this moment of change — individually and collectively.
Feb. 10 | Day Two begins with journalist and author Chris Tomlinson, who will unpack the political, social and organizing fabric that shape the south — and therefore, the country.
- We’ll then depart for site visits to learn from Houston water advocates, community members and funders about the community-centered resilience work happening in the flood-prone metropolis. We’ll be joined by leaders from Houston Water to share alongside advocates about their collective OneWater efforts.
- The day will close with a lively “Fast Pitch” session, where funders share bold ideas and explore collaborative, fundable projects.
Feb. 11 | Day Three turns our lens outward, focusing on how to support movement-building across an ecosystem of diverse players, coalitions and interests.
- Funders will process the many moving efforts to build power at local and state levels and how these efforts ladder up for bigger, future progress.
- We’ll spend time diving deep into funder-led discussions focused on areas for activation, such as climate migration, data centers, implementation of federal infrastructure funding and the water workforce.
- National water leader Radhika Fox will wrap up our gathering as our final featured speaker, helping us chart a path for foundations, nonprofits and other water stakeholders to meet what lies ahead.
Newcomers are welcome! Join us if you are already engaged with TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group — or are looking to learn more about us. Registration is open to donors, staff, directors and trustees of all grantmaking institutions.
Visit the Urban Water Funders 2026 Annual Meeting event page to access our draft agenda and for information on registration and lodging.