Addressing Low-Attention Disasters: Insights from PPREP’s Annual Gathering in Rapid City
BY Hazel Paguaga, Senior Program Associate, The Funders Network
Each year, the Philanthropic Preparedness, Resiliency and Emergency Partnership (PPREP) cohort gathers in one participant's city to learn from place. This year's gathering in Rapid City, South Dakota — hosted by Black Hills Area Community Foundation and Partnership with Native Americans — was one of our best meetings to date.
PPREP is a group of community foundations and regional foundation associations across ten states along the Missouri River watershed (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana). PPREP was created to provide resources and opportunities for community foundations to build up their skills and leadership capacity to be better informed and prepared when a disaster strikes their community. The communities in these regions often experience low attention disasters — events that receive limited national media coverage and often do not receive FEMA Individual Assistance declaration.
Grounded in this context, our gathering kicked off with a site visit to Pine Ridge Reservation, home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which spans 1.7 million acres and has been designated as one of the poorest areas in the country.
We had the privilege of being joined by S. Ramona White Plume and Percy White Plume who gave us some context and history on the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Born on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Mr. Percy spoke of his love of horse riding and how that passion motivated him to create the Horse Spirit Society — a horse riding program for both children and adults focused on traditional teachings and the importance of horses in Lakota culture. Mr. Percy is also involved in the 300-mile Chief Big Foot Memorial Ride to honor the lives lost at Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, which you can learn more about here. After a brief pit stop at Pinky’s convenience store, we reached Wounded Knee Massacre site where Ms. Ramona led us in a prayer to honor and remember. It was a powerful moment to reflect on the history of the land we’re on.
Our next stop was the Oyate Teca Project, a Native nonprofit committed to the well-being of youth and families through programs rooted in culture, education, recreation and health. We heard from Jesse Big Crow, planning and coordinator specialist of the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s emergency management team. Spotty cellphone reception, limited internet access and the enormous scale of land to cover means it can take a long time for responders to assess damage and provide aid. Jesse shared the unique challenges reservations face when it comes to disasters and underscored the importance of keeping the community informed of disaster plans.
Jesse leads emergency management classes and encourages her participants to share the skills they've learned with their families. "Emergency preparedness work includes food sovereignty," Jesse told us. "Being able to garden, grow and access healthy food all year long while learning traditional and modern methods." These classes go beyond growing food — participants are immersed in everything from food safety to entrepreneurship.
We then toured the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Community Center with program director, Rose Fraser, learning about the wide range of programs offered such as cultural education, food security programs, sports and recreation, financial literacy and sewing and beading classes. After the tour, we headed back to Rapid City — but not before stopping for a group photo at Badlands National Park!
Our last stop of the site visit was PWNA’s warehouse, where we were treated to a beautiful graze board (the longest I’ve seen!). We heard from the PWNA team about the great work they’re doing and how they provide food, water, disaster relief, holiday support and so much more to Native communities. After covering so much ground in a single day, the experience underscored just how challenging it can be to reach Native communities in times of need and why this work is both essential and urgent.
Our second day opened with insights from Sarah Labowitz, Senior Fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Sarah introduced the group to the Disaster Dollar Database — a digital tool that tracks the major sources of federal funding for disaster recovery in the United States — and led us through a hands-on exercise to explore specific disaster events that impacted PPREP participants' communities.
We also examined the stark disparities between FEMA individual assistance applications across states. Sarah shared data on the number and types of disasters that have impacted the PPREP region over the past decade and compared those figures with states like Florida, Texas and Louisiana — places that tend to receive far more attention and funding following disasters. This sparked a deeper discussion about recent federal policy shifts and what it means for community foundations' disaster response strategies. If you’re looking for someone who can make sense of disasters and data, call Sarah!
The learning continued into the afternoon with Jolie Wills, a leading psychosocial expert in disaster and disruption and Founder & Executive Director at Hummingly Foundation. Jolie shared practical tools that community foundations can use to help grantees and key community leaders sustain themselves as they sustain others during long term disaster recovery. She emphasized the importance of taking time to pause, reflect and invest in teams to address fatigue and burnout. She introduced us to the Doing Well card deck — a resource designed to help teams and individuals navigate stress, uncertainty and decision-making during challenging times. Jolie left us with a powerful reminder: Don't be the canary in the coal mine — have a plan to prevent burnout before it hits.
On our final day, we heard from the PPREP members themselves. They shared how they are responding to grantee and community needs in the ever-changing federal, state and local funding environments. One of the greatest strengths of the PPREP cohort is the strong connection among members — the way they share resources, provide feedback and support one another through challenges.
We are deeply grateful to our PPREP cohort members and to our partners at Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. We’re already excited to see where we’ll gather next year!
About the Author
Hazel
Paguaga is the Senior Program Manager at The Funders Network. She handles the programmatic support for TFN's Inclusive Economies, Mobility and Access, and PPREP working groups.
Photos provided by Hazel Paguaga and Brooke McPherson.
TFN PLACES Fellowship: A reflection on my year-long learning experience — Cross-post
The Funders Network is committed to sharing the stories and strategies of our members, partners and others in the philanthropic sector working to create more sustainable, prosperous and equitable communities.
Today, we’re sharing a recent blog post by Madison Community Foundation's Angela Davis, Director of Grantmaking. Angela was a member of TFN's 2024 PLACES Cohort.
BY Angela Davis, Madison Community Foundation
On September 17, 2025, MCF launched the long-awaited Goodman Nonprofit Fellowship Program. The inaugural cohort of executive directors, representing large, small and grassroot nonprofit organizations in our community, went through a competitive application process. The energy and excitement that day were palpable.
As I observed the synergy in the room, it made me reflect on the year-long followship I completed last year with The Funders Network (TFN). TFN’s mission is to leverage philanthropy’s unique potential to help create communities and regions that are sustainable, prosperous, healthy and just for all people. TFN is committed to helping funders understand and address racism, economic inequality and the imbalance of power, while also engendering community-driven solutions and amplifying the expertise and experiences of those communities who are least heard.
The Application Process
Since becoming Director of Grantmaking, I’ve wanted to connect with other funders and really understand the challenges and opportunities they face in their communities. I’d always heard great things about TFN and even had a former colleague who went through the program. I was a little nervous about applying for the TFN PLACES (Professionals Learning About Community, Equity and Sustainability) Fellowship.
Applicants need their organization to commit to budgeting the cost and time allowing them to go on four site visits during the year-long fellowship. The application process includes making a video explaining how and why the applicant will benefit from being a part of the fellowship. It is a competitive and time-consuming program and I know how fortunate I was to receive the support of MCF to apply.
I was one of 15 funders chosen across North America. I was in total shock and very humbled. My cohort included fellow funders from private, family, healthcare and community foundations from Vancouver to St. Louis, California to New Orleans to here in the Midwest.
First Stop: Cleveland
Our first in-person gathering was in Cleveland, OH. I had no idea Cleveland had so much to offer. We learned about the history of the city. Specifically, the Forgotten Triangle and the Kinsman neighborhood in the southeastern part of Cleveland. A once booming industrial and commercial hub that faced decades of disinvestment, the site of illegal dumping and neglect. It was inspiring to hear how the neighborhood stepped up and banded together when people realized no one was coming to save them − they had to save their own communities.
➡️ Read Angela's full blog post.
Meet the Team: Ashley Quintana
At TFN, we believe our strength lies in our people, and we take pride in recognizing the expertise and commitment of our team members. This ongoing series — Meet the Team — highlights the talented individuals who power our network.
BY Brooke McPherson, Senior Communications and Engagement Associate, The Funders Network
In this edition of Meet the Team, we’re excited to spotlight our program manager, Ashley Quintana! She is primarily responsible for program management for the Partners for Places matching grant program and our GREEN and Urban Water Funders working groups.
TFN: Hey Ashley! Can you tell us about your role at TFN?
Ashley: I’m part of the programs team at The Funders Network, where I help manage the Partners for Places matching grant program and support our GREEN and Urban Water Funders working groups. My role centers on connecting people — local governments, foundations and community partners — who are all working toward more equitable and sustainable communities. A big part of what I do is help make those collaborations run smoothly, from coordinating grantmaking to organizing learning opportunities that let people share ideas and lessons across cities.
TFN: Partners for Places brings together local governments, place-based funders and frontline community groups to create more equitable and resilient communities across the country. What’s something about that work that really inspires you?
Ashley: I’m constantly inspired by how creative and collaborative our grantees are. Every city has its own story, yet there’s this shared determination to make communities healthier, more connected and more just. Seeing frontline leaders and local governments work side-by-side — not just in name, but in decision-making — is powerful. It reminds me that real change happens when everyone has a seat at the table.
TFN: Can you tell us about your work with the Urban Water Funders working group? What’s exciting about the projects or conversations happening there?
Ashley: Urban Water Funders is such a dynamic space — it brings together funders who care deeply about water equity, infrastructure and climate resilience. What really excites me is the level of dedication among the funders in this group. They’re not just participants; they truly take on leadership roles, helping to shape conversations and drive the group’s direction. It’s inspiring to see how invested they are in the success of the working group and in supporting communities that are tackling complex water challenges across the country.
TFN: Before joining TFN, you worked on environmental projects in both Colorado and Florida. Do you have any lessons or highlights that have stuck with you years later?
Ashley: Definitely. Working in two very different regions taught me that while environmental challenges are often deeply local, the power of community is universal. In Colorado, I learned how collaboration across agencies and nonprofits can turn big ideas into real progress. In Florida, I saw how resilience and creativity thrive even in the face of constant climate threats. Both experiences reinforced the importance of listening first and letting communities lead the way.
TFN: When you’re not busy working on programs and managing grants, how do you like to recharge?
Ashley: I love spending time in my ceramic’s studio — it’s my creative escape. Working with clay keeps me grounded and reminds me to slow down and enjoy the process. I also love traveling, working in the garden and exploring local parks and restaurants with my husband and daughter. Anything that helps me disconnect from screens and reconnect with something hands-on.
TFN: The Funders Network is celebrating 25 years with our theme Be Bold Together. How does boldness show up in your work?
Ashley: For me, boldness often looks like creating space for new voices and perspectives — especially those that have been historically left out of decision-making. It’s about challenging ourselves (and our funder partners) to rethink how we define success and who gets to lead. At TFN, I see boldness in the way we push for collaboration and in how we center equity in everything we do.
Know Your Network: Q&A with Maggie Rwakazina of TFN’s Urban Water Funders
Welcome to Know Your Network, TFN’s blog series highlighting the people making an impact across our community of funders, partners and allies — and beyond.
For this installment of KYN, we invited Maggie Rwakazina, co-chair of TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group and until recently a program officer for Spring Point Partners, to share her insights on the importance of advancing water equity, advice for new funders — and where she’s finding moments of joy and purpose in these challenging times.
Q: Maggie, we know you through your very active role with TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group, which explores urban water solutions like green stormwater infrastructure and climate resilient strategies — with a strong focus on water equity and vulnerable communities. But you have a long professional history working on water issues even before becoming a funder. Tell us a little bit about your connection to water? What is it about this issue that has inspired or shaped so much of your career?
A: Water is central to each aspect of our life. I’ve studied water since I was a young girl growing up along a tributary of the Allegheny River, known for its biodiversity and water quality. When I moved to Philadelphia to seek a more metropolitan lifestyle, I found not everyone had access to the high-quality water resources of my childhood. My time at Philadelphia Water Department and other public sector agencies gave me an inside view of water governance systems. Working in philanthropy, I’ve had the opportunity to support the leaders and organizations shifting these governance systems and building trusted partnerships between community organizations across that inside/outside divide.
Q: Most people turn on their taps and don’t think about the many workers behind the scenes who keep our water infrastructure running. At Spring Point Partners, your funding focus included supporting partners working toward equity in water utilities. What are the critical issues facing water utilities at the moment?
Water Utilities are funded almost exclusively by their ratepayers with little to no state and federal funding. Since they are providing our most essential public infrastructure service, they tend to be fairly risk-averse in culture. Most utilities provide the most affordable and highest quality drinking water, some don’t or can’t, and it’s difficult for people to know fully know the safety of their water without testing or some level of trusted relationship.
Given the general breakdown of trust in public institutions, water utilities face many challenges that the sector’s traditional focus on engineering, science and fiscal management is not equipped to solve on its own. Utility leaders are eager to build new skills within their workforce and build deep collaborative partnerships with their community leaders.
This is why my work at Spring Point Partners focused on supporting the next generation of public water leaders who better represent and reflect the communities they serve. This included leadership development training for thousands of utility leaders across the country, peer networks of leaders, amplifying, and recognizing under representative leaders — changing the face of what water leadership looks like today, and supporting the favorable conditions and culture change work happening within municipal water agencies. Investing in leadership is an important lever for systems change, especially at a time when local governments are faced with a massive wave of retirements. This work helps change out the people who make up “the system,” bringing in new voices and elevating those with closest proximity to their community at the decision-making table behind closed doors within our public agencies.
Community non-profit organizations also engage in this work and partner with water utilities, playing a critical role in building trusted partnerships to bridge the trust gap. There are great examples of deep collaborative partnerships that have formed when leaders of community-based organizations and utilities work together to advance water democracy in their communities. Take a look at Junction Coalition in Toledo, Ohio, or the cross-sector collaborative Jersey Water Works. These are examples of the important work required to rebuild the fabric of our society and the institutions managing our critical infrastructure.
At a moment when many issues seem overwhelming, this deep systems change work requires funding leaders who are ready to take action at all levels to advance equity within local public institutions, build the capacity of community based organizations, and support national NGOs to provide technical assistance and frameworks.
Urban Water Funders and progressive water utility executives at the UWF-WALA breakfast, One Water Summit, November 2023.
Q: How would you describe your relationship with your grantees? Can you share a grantee story or project you’ve found especially impactful?
A: I saw my role as program officer as both a partner and ally to my grantee partners doing the work. When I began my role at Spring Point Partners in March of 2020, it took time to build trust with my partners but I made an effort to meet them literally where they were — on the conference circuit, and to show up for them in any way I could. I believe most came to see me as a true partner in the work during my five years as program officer.
I knew early on that this funding would only be for five years, so I focused most of my energy on community building and creating space for our partners to develop trusted relationships with each other. We gathered virtually and in person to help facilitate peer learning and guidance. In May of 2022 at an in-person gathering, the group really found their collective identity after a short mapping exercise where we provided the space to co-create an image of their individual and collective impact. Using a tree as a symbol, each organization was asked to put their own leaf on as many of the branches (representing parts of the funding strategy). This past July, we gathered for the last time as a group at the One Water Summit where the partners led sessions and invited others into their community supporting water leadership. They even re-created a new 3-D tree, representing their desire to continue this community and work beyond Spring Point Partners funding and convening. I thought that was symbolic of the power of community building!
The Delta Community tree at the One Water Summit 2025
Q: You recently moved on from your role at Spring Point at the end of this summer. As you look back on your time as a funder, what advice would you give to someone just starting out as a grantmaker?
A: It’s all about relationships and building trust. Funders often have well thought out impact strategies, but our partners on the ground are constantly pivoting and dealing with the reality of the day to day micro and macro challenges. Don’t try to control the outcomes-just let the work unfold. Progress can be made by building trusted partnership, which requires funders to approach their work with humility, curiosity and a willingness to deploy their own social capital to help amplify the work. If it’s taking a while to build trust, create lots of space for your grantee partners to build community and trust among each other and demonstrate you don’t assume to have all the answers. Trust is earned from there.
Q: At its core, TFN is about building connections and finding opportunities for learning and collaboration. Do you have a favorite moment you found particularly helpful on your professional journey as a funder? Any favorite TFN memories that spark particular joy?
A: There are so many memories that spark joy, especially gathering in person with my fellow Urban Water Funders. From my first TFN convening cramming into an XL Uber in LA to our recent funders breakfast at the One Water Summit, I’ve found long-lasting friends, allies and compatriots in this network. Our convening in Austin, Texas, last year coincided with a special birthday and may or may not have prompted some hilarious dance moves.
I think I’d feel guilty about how much fun we have together if we didn’t use these deep relationships to challenge each other and help hold each other accountable to push each other to use all of our resources to drive the work forward.
When I have a blind spot in my thinking or I’m looking to build courage to try something new, I know I can count on the funders I’ve met through Urban Water Funders to help me advance the work.
Q: Speaking of sparking joy: We are all trying to figure out how to manage our personal and professional lives in these complicated times. Is there anyone or anything that’s bringing you joy in this moment — or at least some measure of sanity?
A: I took the advice shared by TFN early in 2025 to heart. I’ve been focusing on the issue I have some degree of impact on and trying my best to limit my exposure to the rest of the bad news. I try to instead read longer form news or practical advice from activists who’ve been in this work much longer. Having close allies in the funder community has helped in numerous ways. During our Climate and Water Workforce convening in mid-November, I created a 2025 survival playlist featuring lots of throwback and modern protest music (like Janel Money) and a chill vibes playlist (like Leon Bridges) that I use to center myself when I feel overwhelmed. I’ve also taken time off this summer to spend intense quality time with my kids and I have done as much floating on inner tubes in rivers and lakes as possible. This has really refueled me for the next phase of my professional journey.
Maggie and her children in Philly this August.
Learn more about Urban Water Funders and sign up for updates on more learning opportunities. Want to connect with TFN’s Urban Water Funders in person? Save the Date for their 2026 Annual Meeting, Feb. 9-11, in Houston!
If you want to further engage Maggie in this conversation, please reach out to her at Maggie@ripplestorise.com.
Featured photo: Urban Water Funders and progressive water utility executives at the UWF-WALA breakfast, One Water Summit, November 2023. Photo courtesy of Maggie Rwakazina.
Going PLACES: The Land Remembers Us: Inherited Wisdoms
BY Cheri Souza, Hawai‘i Postsecondary Success Program Officer, Stupski Foundation, and 2025 PLACES Fellow
As I left Saint Paul, the message got louder; slow down and listen, the land is speaking.
Growing up in Hawaiʻi, understanding the precious relationship between ʻāina (land) and people was natural. I grew up between the beach and the mountains, and I learned early on that living on an island means caring for our finite resources. The Hawaiian proverb, He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka (The land is chief, man is her servant), captures this truth.
During our PLACES site visit, the call to listen was sharpened during four exchanges: Waḳan Ṭípi Nature Sanctuary, reclaimed and restored as a sacred Dakota place; the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), building community wealth through land tenure and a food hub; a pilgrimage to George Floyd Square, where grief and resolve are held in public; and a chat with the Rondo Community Land Trust and the West Side Community Organization, where the community is working together to advance reparative actions.
Each visit underscored that land anchors relationships among people and ancestors, supports community wellness, and that philanthropy can either deepen erasure or fund repair.
As we kicked off our time together, we were challenged to examine how our identities granted us proximity to power or exposure to harm as we wrestled with how environmental stewardship without cultural respect could reproduce erasure. We used positionality maps and place-based reflection to see how our race, class, indigeneity/immigrant histories and institutional roles shape who has safety, voice and decision-making power on the land.
We also named how “green” projects that skip language, ceremony or community governance can reenact dispossession, while sharing repair practices like funding Indigenous-led stewardship, sharing board seats, aligning metrics to cultural and ecological indicators and, most importantly, allowing community voice and guidance to lead projects, evaluations and reporting.
Our first stop was the Waḳan Ṭípi Nature Sanctuary, where Maggie Lorenz and Gabbie Menomin shared how they were able to raise more than $10 million over eight years to transform sacred Dakota land known as Imnizaska, that had become a polluted dump site, into a vibrant 27-acre sanctuary that anchors cultural and ecological programming in the urban core, including a soon to be open cultural center. As we toured the site, a heavy rain began to fall and I received it as an ancestral blessing and cleansing and an embodied nudge to consider the physical positionality of the sanctuary nestled next to a railroad and feet from a freeway bridge under construction.
As I listened to Maggie, I heard how reclamation and restoration is wellness. This visit underscored the need to resource indigenous-led organizations, given that they receive only 0.6% of global philanthropic funding. It also urged funders to build budgets inclusive of language revitalization, signage, interpretation and ceremony as core programs (not extras) and ultimately to trust indigenous communities to lead their own projects.
Rain kept us from visiting the HAFA farm in person, so Janssen Yang generously pivoted to a virtual briefing and walked us through HAFA’s model, where land tenure, training and market access have shifted immigrant families from income-earning to asset building. HAFA owns and manages a 155-acre farm and offers members long-term leases, intergenerational business education and a food hub that aggregates and sells members’ produce to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, schools, retailers and institutions. This integrated approach to social, economic and environmental justice has created real opportunity for many families.
Janssen shared a story of a farmer who once could not imagine passing the farm to his children because of constant uncertainty surrounding land access. However, after securing a long-term lease that stability reshaped his outlook and he now dreams of handing the farm down.
Listening to Janssen was a reminder that stability can heal by rewiring the nervous system, providing security so that people and families can plan for the future. This visit reinforced the need to finance community-owned agricultural infrastructure, multi-year leases, bilingual and intergenerational training and market infrastructure.
The next day, our group made a pilgrimage to George Floyd Square through Rise & Remember. We were guided by Georgio Wright, a community member who shared life in the Powderhorn neighborhood before and after George Floyd’s murder in 2020. I was unprepared for the grief, sadness and anger that rose as I walked through the Say Their Names Cemetery, reading markers and saying the names of children as young as seven.
At one point, Georgio asked us whether the “system” was broken. When most of us said yes, he replied, “No, it's not broken. It is doing what it was designed to do.” The lesson for philanthropy is clear; name harm in place and let the people who live there lead the repair. Fund the caretaking of memorial spaces, healing-justice workers and organizing that turns story into policy. Prioritize long-term, community-governed work over shiny, temporary projects. When the spotlight moves on, dollars often leave too, and that churn can wound communities as deeply as the original harm.
(Photo Credit: KingDemetrius Pendleton)
Our final stop was in the Rondo neighborhood to meet leaders and elders from the Rondo Community Land Trust and the West Side Community Organization, groups formed in response to the economic violence of infrastructure projects and urban renewal.
Here’s why land ownership matters so much in Rondo: In 1956, a highway sliced through this historically Black neighborhood, taking about 700 homes and 300 businesses with it. Across the river on the West Side, a multiracial community with strong Latinx roots lost more than 2,100 families after flooding. With that history, community voice isn’t optional, it’s how these neighborhoods thrive.
Although operating in different communities, their throughline is simple; make everyday life better for the people who call these communities home. For funders, the move is just as simple; back resident-led planning and community ownership, and stick around long enough for power to grow and roots to hold.
In the end, everything circles back to land. Memory anchors health, and when sacred sites, farms and memorials are resourced, they serve as clinics for spirit and social fabric by creating a sense of belonging and engagement.
Governance heals too; who decides matters just as much as what gets done, and community rituals are a source of real medicine. Cultural practices are not separate line items, but should be woven together into a greater system.
Finally, repair runs on its own time, not quarterly reports, which means philanthropy must dig into multi-year commitments that move at the pace of planting, tending and harvesting.
Change canʻt wait, but it also won’t happen overnight. If philanthropy can honor land in the ways our indigenous ancestors did and align with community leadership and rhythms, we can move beyond funding projects and start supporting people and places as they heal together.
Mahalo, miigwech, thank you to the leaders and guides who steward these places and who welcomed us to learn on their homelands.
About the Author
Cheri Souza is the Hawai‘i Postsecondary Success Program Officer at the Stupski Foundation. She leads the Hawai‘i postsecondary success portfolio focused on holistic student support initiatives and work-based learning throughout the islands, with an emphasis on underrepresented students and rural communities. She is also a member of TFN’s 2025 PLACES Cohort.
Photographs provided by Cheri Souza.
Emerging Every Day: Lessons from UPF's 2025 UnConference
BY Brooke McPherson, Communications and Engagement Associate, The Funders Network
As I approach my two-year mark here at TFN, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to keep growing in a sector that’s constantly shifting to meet the needs of the moment.
Attending United Philanthropy Forum’s 2025 UnConference in Denver gave me the space to do just that — to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the values and practices that ground me in this work.
Surrounded by new connections and energized by a sense of collective purpose, I found myself scribbling on hotel notepads, underlining phrases that caught my ear, and constantly nodding along – Yes, exactly! – throughout the sessions.
There were so many a-ha! moments that I want to carry forward into my work and into the kind of professional I’m trying (and hoping!) to become.
One of those moments came during a practitioner workshop facilitated by the incredible folks at Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP). The room was full of early-career professionals working across a wide range of issue areas. Though our roles, and especially our questions, felt strikingly familiar.
A phrase that stuck with me:
“I am emerging in my career every single day.”
It’s a reminder that being early in your career doesn’t mean being unsure. It means asking questions. Taking time to absorb the acronyms, collaboratives, working groups. It means letting go of the “fake it til you make it” mindset and embracing something far more honest:
No, I’m not faking. I’m practicing.
"Philanthropy has influence and impact beyond the sector — moving in our values in times of challenge will bring the future we want!" Group brainstorming session on our values as early career professionals.
Given the challenges we’re navigating, it can often feel like everything is moving at light speed. But a strong sense of values and purpose helps keep things steady. It reminds me why I’m here – and how I want to show up in my work.
Two years in, I know a lot more than I did. And there’s so much more to learn!
But what UPF25 reminded me is: I’m not alone in this. There’s a whole community of emerging and seasoned professionals alike, trying to navigate the tides of our times with boldness, purpose and care.
Meet the Team: Ron Milam
At TFN, we believe our strength lies in our people, and we take pride in recognizing the expertise and commitment of our team members. This ongoing series — Meet the Team — highlights the talented individuals who power our network.
BY Brooke McPherson, Communications and Engagement Associate, The Funders Network
In this edition of Meet the Team, we’re excited to spotlight our Director of TFN's Smart Growth California, Ron Milam!
TFN: Hey Ron! Can you tell us about your role at TFN? What does a typical day look like for you?
Ron: I direct Smart Growth California and a typical day involves working with my colleagues at TFN, especially with Diana Williams and Kriselda Bautista, to create engaging spaces for funder learning, alignment and collaboration. A lot of energy goes into planning and facilitating gatherings, both virtual and in-person, where funders to learn from each other, engage in a dialog directly with advocates and policy makers, and lift up opportunities for funder action. Throughout these conversations and in our work in general, we center racial equity in everything we do.
Ron at a Smart Growth California Statewide Steering Committee meeting.
TFN: What's something you're especially proud of in your work right now?
Ron: I’m proud that so many funders in our network are stepping up in these extremely challenging times in a multitude of ways. The two that immediately come to mind are The California Endowment and The California Wellness Foundation, both of whom have increased their annual giving in support of front-line, organizations and networks doing the on the ground work in support of healthy, resilient communities. Now is the time for funders to stretch and move more resources to communities in crisis!
TFN: From wildfires to immigration raids to water crises and affordable housing, California faces challenges that resonate far beyond the state. What’s something the rest of the country could learn from what’s happening across the Golden State?
Ron: It’s been a tough year for sure, especially with everything my hometown of Los Angeles has gone through with fires, federal funding cuts, immigration raids...But California has a rich history of power building work that continues through today. At our 2019 Funder Summit, we heard from Dr. Manual Pastor, who captured a lot of this history in his book State of Resistance: What California’s Dizzying Descent and Remarkable Resurgence Means for America’s Future, which I recommend to anyone who wants to learn more from California. And if you want to learn more, I invite you to attend our 2026 Funder Summit (stay tuned for dates and location)!
Ron at a Los Angeles Funders’ Collaborative lunch
TFN: Many will remember you for leading our closing debrief at TFN’s 25th Anniversary Conference in Baltimore earlier this year. What’s something that’s stayed with you from that experience?
Ron: I love facilitating in-person gatherings and that was such a powerful way to synthesize some of the learnings and potential next steps from our very inspirational 25th Anniversary Conference. While we started that conversation as a large group, what’s stayed with me was walking around the main room during the smaller group conversations that took place at each of the tables, where folks where sharing, jotting down ideas on Post-it notes, smiling and laughing. Something magical happens when folks connect in person that builds community, trust, relationships and the possibilities for a better future.
TFN: When you’re not deep in strategy or facilitation, what helps you recharge or stay grounded?
Ron: Spending time the forest, on my bicycle or on or in the water definitely helps me recharge and stay grounded. And if one of my kids joins me in any of these activities, that’s even better!
TFN: As you know, The Funders Network is celebrating 25 years with the theme Be Bold Together. How does boldness show up in your work?
Ron: For me, being bold means building bridges across issues and geographies — and finding ways for funders to do together what they can’t do alone. I bring together people who may not typically collaborate, and while it’s not always easy, I believe boldness is about holding a bigger vision and inviting others into it, even when the path forward isn’t fully clear.
Thank you, Ron, for giving us a behind-the-scenes look at all the meaningful ways you support TFN’s work. We’re so lucky to have you as part of TFN’s team!
Keep an eye out for the next team member spotlight as we continue to celebrate the people who bring bring boldness and joyful purpose to this work.
Reflections from the 2025 One Water Summit: Collaboration, Connection and a Call for Alignment
BY Kerry Hastings, Program Coordinator, TFN’s Urban Water Funders
The US Water Alliance's One Water Summit from July 7-11 in Pittsburgh offered more than just sessions and panels — it was a powerful reminder of the importance of human connection and cross-sector collaboration in shaping a more equitable water future.
Throughout the week, I connected with funders, nonprofit leaders, utility staff and even corporate representatives who are working at the intersection of water, equity and climate resilience. One message came through loud and clear: we don’t have a shortage of technical knowledge — we have a shortage of collaboration.
That’s a challenge — and an opportunity. How can philanthropy support the alignment needed to unlock the potential of our collective work?
I also left wondering: Are we engaging corporate funders as deeply as we could? The Summit surfaced interest and energy from private-sector partners, and I’m curious how we might cultivate them as co-investors with the Urban Water Funders in a just and sustainable water future.
In-person convenings like this one also offer something that Zoom never can: the chance to deepen relationships and build trust. Our funder breakfast on Friday brought together 20 participants to talk candidly about how we better communicate and align in this moment of flux. And a happy hour hosted by the BHP Foundation turned into an honest conversation about the quirks and challenges of philanthropy — something our nonprofit partners told us they deeply appreciated.
There was also beauty and joy. A standout session on narrative and storytelling, an electrifying performance from Britton and the Sting and an impromptu dance party that reminded us why we’re in this together. I left with the question: How do we better integrate arts and storytelling into our collective strategy, and align it around a unified message?
As we move forward with our own work at The Funders Network — including a new initiative focused on inclusive infrastructure — I’m carrying these reflections and questions with me. And I’m grateful to the US Water Alliance for creating the space to explore them together.
Advocacy Spotlight: Mass Senior Action Council
TFN’s Advocacy Spotlight Series, spearheaded by the network’s Mobility and Access Collaborative, lifts up the work of nonprofit grantees making an impact in their communities and beyond. We asked funders to nominate a stellar grantee to be featured in this series. We’ll share these Advocacy Spotlights TFN’s Blog and social media platforms as part of our commitment to amplifying community-led sustainability solutions and building the field of philanthropy through shared learning.
Advocacy Spotlight: Mass Senior Action Council
Nominated by: Lisa Jacobson, Senior Program Officer — Mobility, Barr Foundation
MBTA Board Meeting: Mass Senior Action Council members call on the MBTA Board to include all paratransit users in the proposed low-income fare. On the day the Board voted to approve the low-income fare, the Secretary of Transportation made an amendment to include all paratransit riders, citing the years of advocacy by Mass Senior Action members in her remarks.
About Mass Senior Action Council
"Mass Senior Action Council (MSAC) is a multi-racial, grassroots, member-led organization of low- and moderate-income seniors working across neighborhood, racial, religious and socio-economic lines to find common ground to meet the needs of seniors. They have 1300 members organized in six chapters across MA and are known for its successful organizing of lower-income seniors. The Barr Foundation supports them as they are very active (and impactful) in transportation and climate work, particularly when it comes to affordable and reliable transit access for seniors."
2014 MBTA RIDE CD : In 2014, members of the Mass Senior Action Council, ages 67 to 90, blocked traffic to protest an extreme fare increase for senior and disabled individuals who rely on paratransit service. Five individuals were arrested during this act of civil disobedience, which ultimately led to the first-ever fare reduction in MBTA history and the implementation of a pilot means-tested fare program
About Their Impact
"MSAC has been organizing and advocating for years on getting a low-income fare on the MBTA. It was finally successful after about 10 years of work! At the last minute, they got buy-in from the MBTA board to ensure that all paratransit service would be included in the low-income fare.
Thanks to Mass Senior Action Council, the MBTA is the first transit authority in the nation to include paratransit in the low income fare policy. They have a great story to share of successful organizing and advocacy, leading to policy change.
Featured Image: Mass Senior Action Council members rally at the State House. MSAC is recognized for its ability to bring together a large number of well-informed seniors who are empowered to use their voices and experience to effect change on issues that impact their lives and communities.
About this series: TFN invited funders to nominate a stellar grantee to be featured in the Mobility and Access Collaborative’s Advocacy Spotlight series. The stories in this series were submitted by funders and shared with nominees in advance for fact-checking and further clarification when needed. If you have any questions about this series or TFN’s Mobility and Access Collaborative, please contact Martha Roskowski martha@fundersnetwork.org
Advocacy Spotlight: Transportation for MA
TFN’s Advocacy Spotlight Series, spearheaded by the network’s Mobility and Access Collaborative, lifts up the work of nonprofit grantees making an impact in their communities and beyond. We asked funders to nominate a stellar grantee to be featured in this series. We’ll share these Advocacy Spotlights TFN’s Blog and social media platforms as part of our commitment to amplifying community-led sustainability solutions and building the field of philanthropy through shared learning.
Advocacy Spotlight: Transportation for MA
Nominated by: Lisa Jacobson, Senior Program Officer — Mobility, Barr Foundation
T4MA and its member organizations — Boston Center for Independent Living, MassBike and WalkMassachusetts — convened Shared Spaces, a group working towards collective advocacy with people with disabilities, pedestrians and bicyclists. In April 2025, Shared Spaces toured Tremont St. in Boston, learning and brainstorming solutions that work for all street users.
About Transportation for MA
"Transportation for MA (T4MA) is a statewide coalition of community-based organizations and aligned partners in Massachusetts to advance a just and equitable transportation system. They are the key organization in the state to lead on transportation policy at the state level."
T4MA and member organization, Hilltown Community Development Corporation, convened for its RideAlong series, where they rode their micro-transit service through the rural Hilltowns. The service provides connection and community for folks with no other transportation options
About Their Impact
"T4MA recently went through an organizational restructuring process to meaningfully center equity and justice, rather than have it be one part of their mission. They did a substantial amount of work restructuring their by-laws, governance and leadership, member structure, policy priorities and a variety of their processes.
This work was really meaningful and set them in a new direction as an organization, building out a new membership to better reflect the diverse needs of communities from all over Massachusetts. Their work provides lots of lessons for non-profits in any sector."
About this series: TFN invited funders to nominate a stellar grantee to be featured in the Mobility and Access Collaborative’s Advocacy Spotlight series. The stories in this series were submitted by funders and shared with nominees in advance for fact-checking and further clarification when needed. If you have any questions about this series or TFN’s Mobility and Access Collaborative, please contact Martha Roskowski martha@fundersnetwork.org