Tere Figueras Negrete

Going PLACES: What Does It Mean to be Remembered?

BY Jarryd Bethea, PLACES Fellow and Senior Research Associate, Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative 

The time I spent during our recent PLACES Fellowship site visit in Cleveland demanded that I abandon the assumptions I arrived with: It's just another city in the Midwest.

Leaving those assumptions behind meant that I could become better acquainted with Cleveland, practice community with the residents who are fervently working to shape the city’s outcomes and open myself to the lessons ready to be taught.

I want to begin by acknowledging that the land we were in community with (which is now settled as Cleveland, Ohio) belongs to the Mississauga, Kaskaskia, and the Erie Native American people.

I have always regarded land acknowledgments as progressive, seemingly the first step of a reparative approach. Cynthia Connolly of the Lake Erie Native American Council provided a timely reminder that a land acknowledgment will never suffice in place of the full context and support of her people. The termination era from the 1950s-1960s is characterized as the period where the U.S. government acted to assimilate Native Americans into western society within the United States. The Bureau of Indian Affairs offered incentives such as jobs and economic security to those willing to relocate to urban cores.

Cleveland was among these originally designated cities.

Unfortunately, many of the promised benefits were not realized. Despite the broken trust and false offerings made to the Indigenous peoples, a resilient and interconnected community in Northeast Ohio began to thrive.

There are many stories and histories of shared relationships between Indigenous and Black communities of Ohio — one of which is St. John’s Episcopal Church.

This church held gatherings for Indigenous folks, providing a space for them to congregate and mobilize during the termination era. St. John’s is also known to have been one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad for enslaved Blacks seeking respite from the country’s injustices.

This grounds me in the reminder that Indigenous peoples and Black Americans in this country share an extensive number of experiences, including their mistreatment and displacement. This reminder is humbling —  and humility remains a core tenet of learning.

PLACES Fellow Jarryd Bethea and other members of the 2024 PLACES Cohort gathered in Cleveland in May.

As a policy practitioner at the intersection of economic development and community advocacy, my work centers on wealth-building practices that emphasize the collective power of Black communities across the South.

Much of the disruption and displacement of Black communities in Atlanta — the primary geographic area for my work — is due in part to extraction and the desire to create something new. This is not dissimilar to the plight of America’s Indigenous communities, who have also borne the violence of erasure rooted in racism. I look to our Indigenous brothers and sisters for lessons in fighting to maintain our whole identities, stories, culture and communities against American settler colonialism.

Erasure as a tool of oppression is still settling with me as a foundational truth of white supremacy and I continue to sit with the ways it will manifest.

As the country’s policy landscape experiences a retrenchment — evidenced by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the ruling on the Fearless Fund, and the passing of restrictive legislation whose impact and legacy of harm cannot be understated when discussing marginalized identities — it is increasingly important that we mobilize ourselves, tell our stories and embody the forms of joy we engage in. Cleveland is a city that has set an example for all three.

Let me share just a few of the folks we met in Cleveland and how they embody the above call to action:

The work of Jazmin Long and Tonae Bolton at Birthing Beautiful Communities is a lionhearted act of care that embraces mothers from expectancy to well after the baby has arrived. Born out of the need for better maternal care for Black mothers, they have scaled their organization to actively support between 250 and 300 clients.

Pairing their practice with research and advocacy, the organization is striving to make a difference in Ohio’s healthcare system. While the work may be difficult, Jazmin still made time to center joy during an impromptu karaoke session with our PLACES cohort.

We met with the Partnership for Equitable and Resilient Communities (PERC),  a collaborative of funders, city officials, and community organizers working to advance equitable development in Cleveland, utilizing public and private dollars in service of Black, Latino/a/x, and Indigenous communities. It was inspiring to see a group so cohesive and supportive of one another — offering the reminder that developing deep relationships rooted in care is a prerequisite for impactful work.

And finally, Rid-All Green Partnership. Located in a part of Cleveland known as the Forbidden Triangle, this community space was a longtime site of illegal dumping, disinvestment and neglect. It has now been transformed into a 15-acre urban farm that encompasses a community kitchen and offers environmental programs while tackling food insecurity. The radical repurposing of this space has yielded a valuable and joy-filled asset to the community.

The PLACES Fellows visited the Rid-All Green Partnership, which turned an empty and forgotten piece of land in Cleveland’s Kinsman Neighborhood into an urban farm.

My PLACES site visit shared many similarities with my current work supporting local policy. Most of all, there was an emphasis on the need for Black and Indigenous residents to access self-determination and decide for themselves how they would like to see their communities change.

Admittedly, Cleveland is changing in a very different way than Atlanta, as it is considered a city in decline. Once home to almost one million residents, it now has a population of only 360,000.

However, Kaela Geschke with Trust for Public Land believes that Cleveland may become a climate refugee city in the future due to rising global temperatures and the city’s idyllic positioning near fresh water and mild temperatures. This migration and its impact on the city’s economic development remains to be seen.

My time in Cleveland was replete with witnessing acts of service that left me with the desire to learn more and do more. For now, I believe it remains essential that we underscore self-determination in community outcomes to debase erasure as a tool of racism.

About the Author

Jarryd Bethea is a member of TFN’s 2024 Fellowship Cohort and a senior research associate at the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative.

Featured image: The 2024 PLACES Fellows gathered in Cleveland for the third site visit of their fellowship year.

by Tere Figueras Negrete

Meet the New Partners for Places Grantees: Five Communities + Five Community-led Sustainability Projects

BY TFN Staff

Fix a flood-prone pedestrian path so neighbors can safely walk home. Provide climate-emergency training for people living in prefabricated houses. Create a resilience plan to ensure one of the oldest Chinatowns in the country remains safe and vibrant for generations to come.

These are just a few of the projects that will be supported by the latest round of Partners for Places grants, which help fund efforts to create more equitable and resilient communities across the U.S.

In all, five U.S. communities will receive more than $1.3 million in Partners for Places matching grants to support sustainability efforts that bring together local governments, place-based funders, and frontline community groups.

The five communities receiving this latest round of Partners for Places grants are: Boston, Mass.; Boulder, Colo.; Bridgeport, Conn.; Oakland, Calif.; and San Francisco, Calif.

Successful Partners for Places projects advance much-needed climate planning and sustainable solutions in communities both large and small.

With the support of matching local funders, these projects also help build bridges between city officials and the communities that bear the brunt of environmental injustice but are often left out of decision-making processes.

Meet the new Grantees!

How will these Partners for Places grants help local sustainability efforts?

In Boston, the grants will support the community outreach and planning required to transform a one-acre vacant lot in East Boston into a vibrant agricultural and educational community center. The funds will also support efforts to improve a pedestrian greenway prone to severe flooding that submerges the path, rendering it impassable and depriving residents of safe passage through their neighborhood.

Bridgeport will use its Partners for Places funds to build community resilience through collaborative environmental education, including the co-creation of a climate resilience curriculum that can be used by community leaders throughout the city. Their goals include building trust and understanding between frontline community residents and local decision-makers, and to ultimately establish a training program where community leaders can share knowledge and empower their fellow residents to participate in climate-related policymaking.

In California, Partners for Places will support efforts to create thriving and climate-resilient urban areas that provide cultural and social resources for Indigenous and immigrant communities.

In Oakland, the grants will support the co-creation of a resilience plan for the city’s Chinatown, one of the oldest Chinatowns in the U.S. The project centers on developing the leadership of community members to advocate for local priorities that advance equitable climate and community resilience strategies. The grant will also help ensure that critical services and social connections remain intact while a local community center is converted into a resilience hub.

In San Francisco, Partners for Places will support efforts to develop a green cultural zone in the city’s Mission District, a plan that aims to transform more than a mile of sidewalks, streets, buildings and storefronts into a thriving, greened, biodiverse neighborhood community. The concept is part of a larger initiative to create a home of urban belonging in the heart of San Francisco where the city’s Native peoples can connect with services, with nature, with each other, and with their cultures.

In Boulder, the funds will strengthen partnerships with local governments and center the experience, wisdom, and voices of frontline community members. Efforts supported by these funds will include community-led preparedness training for climate emergencies, with a focus on manufactured home parks; ensuring impacted residents are educated and empowered to advocate for equitable cleanup of toxic coal ash; and supporting a grassroots group of Latina leaders working to address the impacts of climate change and improve the social and economic wellbeing of the community.

The Boulder project advances the work of the local Climate Justice Collaborative, created with the support of an earlier Partners for Places grant — one of the many examples of how these local relationships can lay the groundwork for even more action and collaboration at the grassroots level.

About Partners for Places

Partners for Places, led by The Funders Network (TFN) in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), will provide $718,000 in funding to these five communities through the grant program. With contributions from local matching funders, a total of $1,308,000 will be committed to fund sustainability projects in these selected communities. This grant cycle includes a total of $223,000 in Partners for Places grants and local matching funds awarded to the green stormwater infrastructure project in Boston.

To date, Partners for Places has awarded nearly $12 million across North America in this successful matching grant program, leading to more than $23 million in investments.

The matching grant program brings national funder investors together with place-based funders to support equitable, sustainable climate action and green stormwater infrastructure projects. The program is currently supported by The JPB Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, The Kresge Foundation, and the Pisces Foundation. One or more local foundations are required to provide at least a 50% matching grant.

Matching Funders and Community Partners

The latest Partners for Places grant recipients, matching funders and frontline community-led groups are:

• Boston, Mass. ($118,000): To support community outreach and planning to improve stormwater infrastructure on a flood-prone pedestrian pathway and transform vacant lot in East Boston into a vibrant agricultural and educational community center. Frontline community group: Eastie Farm. Matching funders: The Boston Foundation and Heinemann Foundation ($105,000).
• City and County of Boulder, Colo. ($150,000): To strengthen partnerships with local governments and center the experience, wisdom, and voices of frontline community members to foster collaboration and equitable climate action projects. Frontline community group: Community-Led Preparedness Training for Climate Emergencies (CPT). Matching funder: Philanthropiece Foundation ($170,000).
• Bridgeport, Conn. ($150,000): To empower an environmental justice community with education on climate change, enhancing informed decision-making and self-advocacy for residents. The Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs will coordinate collaboration along with the city’s sustainability manager. Frontline community group: PT Partners. Matching funders: Barr Foundation and William Caspar Graustein Foundation ($90,000).
• Oakland, Calif. ($150,000): To co-create a Rooted and Resilient Oakland Chinatown Plan, in collaboration with the city's Sustainability and Resilience Division, centering its frontline anchor community to advance strategies for climate/community resilience for generations to come. Frontline community groups: Asian Pacific Environmental Network and Friends of Lincoln Square Park. Matching funder: The California Endowment ($75,000).
• San Francisco, Calif. ($150,000): To promote environmental justice and build an ecologically sustainable and supportive community for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Latino/a/es in San Francisco’s Mission District. Frontline community group: Friendship House’s Village SF Initiative. Matching funder: Future Allies ($150,000).

Partners for Places FAQ's

→ Where is Partners for Places making an impact?

Read previous grant announcements and explore the Partners for Places Grantee Map here.

→ Where can I learn about completed Partners for Places projects?

Visit the Partners for Places Idea Bank to explore what grantees are doing, learning and sharing.

→ When is the next round of Partners for Places matching grants?

Partners for Places will open a new round of funding in winter 2025.

For more information about Partners for Places, please reach out to Ashley Quintana, ashley@fundersnetwork.org.

by Tere Figueras Negrete

How are TFN board members selected? Read our Board of Directors FAQ's

BY TFN STAFF

TFN members recently elected a new slate of candidates to serve on the network's Board of Directors. An engaged and active board that represents the depth and diversity of our membership is critical to our mission-driven work, which centers on cultivating courageous philanthropic leaders who are engaged, emboldened and equipped to bring about a just society.

Curious to learn more about how candidates for TFN's Board of Directors are selected and elected?

Below are some frequently asked questions about this process.

How many members are on the full TFN Board of Directors?

The 2024-2026 election brings the total number of board members to 15.

Who gets to vote in TFN Board of Directors elections?

TFN's Board of Directors met in January to approve the slate of candidates. TFN member organizations in good standing received electronic ballots to cast their votes, which were due in April. Each member organization is entitled to one vote, with electronic ballots sent to the primary contact listed on TFN's membership roster.

The board also elects its officers at the January meeting.

How are prospective board members identified and recruited?

The board’s Organizational Development Committee oversees the
nomination process for directors and officers. Their goal is to identify a strong pool of candidates, and ensure the overall board composition reflects a diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

TFN also strives to cultivate a board that is reflective of the types of grantmaking institutions that make up our membership, from institutions with national and regional reach to place-based community foundations.

Factors for consideration include a candidate's: ctors for consideration include a candidate's:

• Level of engagement and leadership across TFN, such as participation in the PLACES Fellowship, working groups, or other programs
• Availability and willingness to devote time to board duties
• Issue/content areas of expertise
• Race and ethnicity
• Sexual orientation and gender identity/expression
• Type and asset size of their grantmaking institution
• Geographic location
• Ability to exercise sound judgement

Candidates are selected based on their unique capabilities and perspectives that will enhance the board’s effectiveness as a governing body.

➡️More information about the nomination process and criteria is available in the Election Information Guide.

How can I volunteer for TFN leadership opportunities?

TFN offers a wealth of volunteer leadership opportunities that not only give you a chance to support TFN and our broader mission, but also expand your own professional networks. These opportunities include serving on our board, as well as designing learning sessions, event planning committees and programmatic steering and advisory committees. If you or a member of your team is looking to deepen your engagement with our community of funders and partners, don't hesitate to reach out to our team at membership@fundersnetwork.org.

by Tere Figueras Negrete

Call for Proposals: TFN's 25th Anniversary Conference

BY TFN STAFF

Do you have an idea for a conference session or workshop that will deepen learning, foster collaboration and catalyze action?

We invite you to submit a proposal for The Funders Network’s 25th Annual Conference: Be Bold Together, March 17-19, 2025 in Baltimore, Md.

Our 25th Anniversary Conference theme — Be Bold Together — emphasizes the need for courageous action and meaningful collaboration to correct injustices and deploy resources where they are most needed.

We look forward to coming together in Baltimore to delve into work that addresses the wellbeing of people and places facing an escalating climate crisis, erosion of civil liberties and pervasive economic inequities  —  all of which disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color.

→ Read our #TFN25 Conference Proposal Guidelines for more information on the types of sessions and workshops we're planning for Baltimore.

→ Submit your proposal through our Online Proposal Form.

→ Questions? Please reach out to Lesmarie Nicholson at lesmarie@fundersnetwork.org.

The deadline to submit is May 24

ABOUT #TFN25

We'll gather at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, located on the city's scenic Inner Harbor.

Save the date for TFN's 25th Anniversary Conference, which takes place March 17-19 in Baltimore, Md.!

Registration will launch in the winter. Stay tuned for more details!

→ Curious about what we learned and shared at our last conference? Check out the full agenda and speaker list for TFN's 2023 Annual Conference in New Orleans here. 

GROUNDED IN RACIAL EQUITY

Funders at #TFN2023 had the chance to stop by the YEP (Youth Empowerment Project) Bike Works to learn how the non-profit is helping train and support local kids in the historically Black neighborhood of Center City.

Our conference planning committee and TFN team are encouraging session ideas that are interdisciplinary, cross-cutting and grounded in racial equity.

TFN’s Strategic & Racial Equity Frameworks share key strategies, our racial equity framework and action plan, and program priorities. Download a copy here.

by Tere Figueras Negrete

Be Bold. Be Courageous: Final thoughts on my last day at TFN

BY Pat Smith, President & CEO

How will I measure the more than five years I’ve been with The Funders Network?

In months? (67.)
In days? (2,020.)
By Zoom meetings? (Too many to count.)

However you do the math, the truth is my time with TFN can’t be quantified by any simple calculation.

And this network — its members and partners, its team of staff and contractors, its mission-driven work — is so much more than the sum of its parts.

As I wrap up my final day at TFN, I’m grateful for what we’ve accomplished together in the last five years: The network is a thriving and robust community of funders and allies that has grown — both in size, scope and resources — since I joined its ranks on July 2, 2018.

We’ve worked to explicitly center racial equity in all of our many programs and partnerships. We’ve created space for funders, both at in-person events and virtual learning sessions, to better understand and explore the connection between their specific funding areas and the systemic inequities that stand in the way of true progress. We’ve deepened our engagement with experts and advocates in the social sector to share opportunities for action and collaboration.

But I’m also humbled by the work that still needs to be done.

The Road Ahead

While TFN’s commitment to racial equity is foundational and cross-cutting, we can’t ignore that the values of diversity, equity and inclusion — the very tools needed to build a just and liberated future — are under assault.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action in higher education, as well as legal and political broadsides attacking DEI programs in classrooms and boardrooms, worries me deeply.

I encourage you, as funders and allies deeply committed to the communities you serve, to use your collective voices — and institutional resources — to double down on the need to embed racial equity in your grantmaking.

Philanthropic decisions should include the voices of the people and communities most affected by structural racism, including those on the front lines of the climate crisis and those facing increasingly steep barriers to economic opportunity and mobility.

TFN member organizations have the power to advocate for policy change, fund research, convene changemakers, and amplify the lived experiences of those most impacted by systemic harm.

Together, you have the power to advance intersectional solutions that can help undo decades of disinvestment and under-resourcing in Black, Indigenous and other communities of color.

This work is critical to TFN’s mission, which is to leverage philanthropy’s unique potential to help create communities and regions that are sustainable, prosperous, healthy and just for all people.

That’s why it is essential that we, as a network and as a sector, must foster generations of courageous philanthropic leaders who are engaged, emboldened and equipped to bring about a just society.

I am honored to pass the baton to my colleague, TFN’s incoming President & CEO Dion Cartwright, who has proven herself to be both bold and courageous. Since my first day at TFN more than five years ago, I’ve known Dion to be an advocate for change in the philanthropic sector and one of the driving forces behind TFN’s explicit commitment to racial equity.

Heartfelt Thanks

I’m grateful to Dion and the rest of TFN’s talented team for their dedication and camaraderie over the past five years, including the challenges and disruptions we all faced at the height of the pandemic.

I’m also grateful for the counsel, support and leadership of TFN’s Board of Directors and our funder-led steering committees — and the countless other funders and partners who have volunteered their time in service of our mission.

And while I’ve promised myself (and my partner, Elbert) that I’ll try to embrace a Zoom-free future in my retirement, please know that you can always find me  on LinkedIn.

I’m excited and hopeful to see what the future has in store for TFN.

Wishing you all a wonderful Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a joyful and just 2024.

Visits TFN Instagram to see some of our favorite memories of Pat's tenure. 

by Tere Figueras Negrete

What's in store for 2024? Check out TFN events, professional development for funders & more!

BY TFN Staff

As we approach the New Year, we wanted to take a moment to thank our community of funders, partners and allies.

TFN is a diverse network of more than 130 foundations across the U.S., from small, rural community organizations to large urban foundations.

Our members reflect a broad spectrum of place-based philanthropic efforts — working to tackle the climate crisis, expand economic opportunity, improve health outcomes, reimagine built environments, safeguard civil liberties, and forge community power and collaboration.

But we’re connected by a common thread that runs through all of TFN’s many working groups, partnerships and learning cohorts: Our commitment to addressing the systemic racial inequities that stand in the way of building a more just and compassionate world.

This work can be complex and often frustrating, especially when we reflect on the many ways communities are challenged and marginalized people are oppressed —  both at home and across the globe.

We hope this season offers a chance to connect with the people and places that bring joyful purpose to your work, and to reflect on the opportunities for change in the year to come.

TFN will be closed Dec. 25 to Jan. 2, but we're ready to kick off 2024 with events and programs designed to amplify your grantmaking impact, hone your professional skills and deepen your engagement with other leaders in the sector.

We'll also share insights and reflections as we move forward with TFN's leadership transition, bidding a fond farewell to our outgoing President & CEO Pat Smith and welcoming our colleague Dion Cartwright as she steps into her new role as head of the network.

If you're new to our community, we hope you'll take a moment to explore our work and learn about the benefits of joining TFN's membership.

Read on to learn more about just a few of the things we have in store for 2024!

We’re excited for our Spring Convening of funders engaged in TFN working groups focused on climate and sustainability, urban water issues, and transportation, mobility and access.

Newcomers are welcome! Any funder interested in these focus areas is invited to attend the convening, which takes place March 27-28 in Austin, Texas. Click here for registration rates, lodging and other info.

Applications for the 2024 PLACES Cohort are now open! TFN’s PLACES Fellowship is an eight-month learning journey designed to help grantmakers embed the values and practices of environmental, economic and racial justice into their work. The deadline to apply is Jan. 5, 2024. Learn more and access the application here.

More PLACES news: 

• Mark your calendars for a three-part leadership coaching series March 8, 15 and 22 from 1-2:30 p.m. ET/ 10-11:30 a.m. PT with Bina M. Patel, PLACES alum and facilitator, and author of Say The Quiet Part Out Loud: Liberate Your Inner Changemaker. Keep an eye out for registration info in early January.
• PLACES is launching a virtual commuity of practice for PLACES alums in executive positions. Participants will meet bi-monthly starting in February. Please fill out this interest form if you’d like to participate and we'll get back to you with next steps.
• Save the date for the 2024 PLACES Alum Gathering, Aug. 8-9 in Chicago!

TFN, in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), has openned the latest round of the Partners for Places grant program.

The deadline to submit proposals is Feb. 27.

This matching grant program improves communities by supporting equitable sustainability projects that build partnerships between local government leaders, frontline community groups and place-based funders in the U.S. and Canada.

Learn more about the latest grant opportunity and application requirements.

More Partners for Places resources:

- Register for our Round 21 Informational Webinar designed to help potential applicants prepare proposals, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. ET.

- Learn about Partners for Places grantmaking impact in 2023.

Smart Growth California’s Funder Summit takes place March 4-6 in Sacramento. The Summit is where California-focused funders share, learn and collaborate on work that advances a common vision – creating sustainable, equitable communities across California’s diverse landscape. Register here.

More Smart Growth California events:

- Smart Growth California's LA Funders' Collaborative meets Jan. 26, and the Climate Funders' Collaborative (Baja, Imperial, San Diego) meets Jan. 29. Reach out to Ron Milam for more information.

Coming soon!

Stay tuned for the premiere of Reel Change: A TFN Virtual Film Series — our first ever virtual film series showcasing documentaries and short films focused on racial, social and environmental justice.

The series kicks off in 2024 and will include virtual conversations with filmmakers, activists and funders focused on storytelling and narrative change.

Don't forget to sign up for TFN's Member Portal!

This password-protected, member-only portal is designed to support collaboration, deepen understanding and spark connections within our network and beyond.

Our peer-to-peer platform will allow TFN members to access a searchable database of funders and learning resources and recordings. You'll also be able to update your individual TFN profile and engage with our working groups.

How do you access TFN's Member Portal? Just fill out our simple sign-up form. You'll then receive a welcome email with your username and login instructions.

We look forward to staying connected in 2024!

"Holiday background with a sparkler" by wuestenigel is licensed under CC BY

by Tere Figueras Negrete

Want to increase your grantmaking impact and revitalize local news flows? Consider funding local media collaboratives

by Tere Figueras Negrete

New Grant Opportunities: Partners for Places Applications Now Open!

BY TFN Staff

The Funders Network (TFN), in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), is pleased to announce the opening of the latest round of the Partners for Places grant program.

The deadline to submit proposals is Feb. 27.

The  Partners for Places  matching grant program improves communities by supporting equitable sustainability projects that build partnerships between local government leaders, frontline community groups and place-based funders in the U.S. and Canada.

National funders invest in local projects developed through these partnerships to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy and well-being for all residents.

Through these investments, Partners for Places fosters long-term relationships that make our communities more resilient, prosperous and equitable.

These matching awards provide partnership investments between $45,000 and $150,000 for one-year projects, or between $75,000 and $180,000 for two-year projects. One or more local foundations are required to provide at least a 50 percent matching grant for projects.

Interested in applying? 

Access the application and resource documents below. (These resources are also available on our Partners for Places home page.)

Round 21 Application and Resources

• Invitation to Apply
• Application Form 
• Budget Form
• Informational Webinar | 3 p.m. ET Jan. 17: Register here.

Partners for Places funds will help Chelsea, Mass. turn the Mill Creek waterfront into a vibrant and accessible area for passive and active recreation. Source: GreenRoots

About Partners for Places

Partners for Places is led by TFN in partnership with the USDN.

To date, Partners for Places has awarded $10.9 million across North America in this successful matching grant program, leading to more than $21.6 million in investments.

The matching grant program brings national funder investors together with place-based funders to support equitable and sustainable climate action and green stormwater infrastructure projects. The program is currently supported by four investor foundations: The JPB Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, The Kresge Foundation, and the Pisces Foundation.

Read about the latest round of Partners for Places matching grant recipients here.

(All grant announcements can be found on the Partners for Places webpage.)

Read about previous rounds of grants under the Meet the Grantees section of the Partners for Places page.

Submitting a Successful Proposal

Round 21 general grant funds will support:

1. Spreading of local Equitable Climate Action (ECA) and/or Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) practices.
2. Advancing opportunities for local government, frontline communities, and place-based funders to build trusting partnerships and develop projects together.

The application deadline for Round 21 is Feb. 27 (by 11:59 p.m., any time zone).

Please visit the Partners for Places webpage for more information.

Hough community members gathered in Cuyahoga County to share their thoughts on plans to turn the site of a former primary school into a 2.6-acre park. Credit: Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Additional Resources

→ Register for our Round 21 Informational Webinar designed to help potential applicants prepare proposals, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m.ET. Register here.

→ Read this feature story about Partners for Places in Inside Philanthropy here.

→  If you have questions about the Partners for Places program, please feel free to reach out to Ashley Quintana at ashley@fundersnetwork.org.

→ Where is Partners for Places making an impact? Read previous grant announcements and explore the Partners for Places Grantee Map here.

→ Where can I learn about completed Partners for Places projects?
Visit the Partners for Places Idea Bank to explore what grantees are doing, learning and sharing.

by Tere Figueras Negrete