Building Bridges Across Water: Lessons from the 2025 Water Table Gathering
BY Kerry Hastings, Program Coordinator, TFN's Urban Water Funders
This April, funders and leaders from across the water sector gathered in Philadelphia for a meeting of the Water Table, a forum for funders to learn together, coordinate resources, and take action on water housed at the Water Foundation, a TFN member organization.
The Water Table is a key partner of TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group. We’re in a pivotal moment for those of us dedicated to addressing both upstream and downstream water issues, and the gathering reaffirmed just how deeply interconnected our conversations around conservation, clean water, equity, and infrastructure are. Over the past year, we’ve been working to bridge the divide between traditional “conservation” funders and urban water funders, and it’s clear that we have much more in common than we often realize.
One of the most striking moments came from a speaker who shared reflections from her time in the federal government. She recounted a meeting where philanthropy CEOs were invited to discuss water priorities with the Biden administration. Her key takeaway: There was no clear, coherent ask from the water sector.
This lack of alignment left many in the previous administration feeling unsure of what water advocates actually wanted. The speaker noted that while we are currently playing defense and pausing certain priorities, we also have an opportunity to step back as a sector and build a unified water agenda — one that a robust, multi-stakeholder coalition can co-create and support. There is tremendous opportunity for philanthropy to step into this moment and provide the leadership and resources needed to weave together diverse players in the water space.
Philadelphia water department staff and PowerCorpsPHL grads joined to share about their work maintaining the city’s green infrastructure.
For philanthropy, the essential question is: How can we use our unique power to advance a shared water agenda?
In addition to supporting the development of networks and shared priorities, there is also the opportunity to invest in water communications and uplift water as a “light in the darkness” for climate action.
While the water sector is being heavily impacted by the changing priorities and paused federal funding, there is also opportunity for real movement and action. Heather Taylor Miesle, Senior Vice President at American Rivers shared that survey after survey show that water is a priority for people — even more so than climate or clean air. In the fall of 2024, she reported, a significant number of water-related ballot measures passed. We’re continuing to see progress on water access in traditionally conservative places, including rural areas, showing that we can keep pushing forward even amid tremendous challenges.
So what messages work? Andy Kricun of Moonshot Missions, who previously led the Camden, N.J., water department, emphasized the importance of telling stories that evoke visceral reactions and drive home the need for safe, affordable water for everyone.
For instance, he would describe the devastating impact of flooding when raw sewage filled a family’s basement, or how kids were sent to foster care simply because a family couldn’t afford water bills.
“People should be angry,” he said.
Beyond messaging, we need people who are ready to act and prioritize water.
Hahrie Han, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University who studies movement-building, shared a powerful distinction between “mobilizing” and “organizing.” Mobilizing, she explained, is about getting people to do a thing — usually through a simple, top-down ask. Organizing, on the other hand, is about helping people develop an internal compass, navigate uncertainty, take action when needed and enact the values we want to see in the world.
"Don’t outsource your outrage to someone else," Han said.
This powerful invitation is a reminder to philanthropy to fund to critical work of grassroots organizing.
The Philadelphia event included a tour of the Fairmount Water Works.
One final reflection: The best way to mitigate risks down the line is to build partnerships now. Across all speakers, this message rang loud and clear. For the water sector, that means working beyond our traditional silos to create durable, cross-sector partnerships — especially with fields like public health, economic justice, and democracy.
Funders have a critical role to play in this moment. The roles lifted up during our discussions included:
- Fund leaders and convening efforts to build a culture of collaboration across the sector, while mapping out the next steps for collective action.
- Tell local stories with local people — make them both visual and visceral.
- Support networks for the systematic sharing of information across the field.
- Help build national narratives that unite us around a collective belief that enough is enough.
- Fund grassroots work — change happens in place, and people are empowered through personal connections
At the conclusion of the Water Table meeting, folks met from the Urban Water Initiative, a growing collaboration between TFN’s Urban Water Funders and Water Table. Funders from both groups have been participating in co-facilitated meetings and we are actively exploring coordinated outreach strategies to build new partnerships and drive resources to our sector. We are more committed than ever to ensuring that water becomes a central focus in the broader conversations shaping the future.
Whether your focused on public health, economic justice or democracy, there is a place for every funder to see how water fits into their goals and issues. Now is the time to act. Let’s work together to make water a common cause and drive real, lasting change. If you’re interested in connecting with TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group, please reach out to me, Kerry Hastings, at kerry@fundersnetwork.org.
About the Author
Kerry Hastings is the Program Coordinator for TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group.
Featured image: (From left) Nicole Cordan of Hewlett Foundation, Mami Hara of US Water Alliance and Andy Kricun of Moonshot Missions share their thoughts on a panel about scaling work. All photos courtesy of Kerry Hastings.
The Battle for Common Sense: What I Learned About Cultural Mindsets at TFN25
BY Diana Williams, Program Manager, TFN's Smart Growth California
On a recent flight, the man sitting next to me struck up a conversation about California wildfires. Let’s just say he had some opinions.
A month ago, I’d have felt a little trapped. (Actually, I still felt a little trapped, but that’s also because it was a four-hour flight.) But thanks to TFN’s 25th Anniversary Conference, I had a new framework in my back pocket that helped me understand what was going on: cultural mindsets.
Here’s what happened.
My seatmate blamed the wildfires on government and environmentalists, full stop. He talked about mismanagement, lax enforcement, and how environmentalists won’t let anyone clear away underbrush. Never mind that climate change plays a role and that environmentalists aren’t exactly fans of dead underbrush. It didn’t make a dent.
Then it clicked: Aha! This wasn’t a policy debate. It was about worldview. My seatmate didn’t just think the system was flawed, he thought it was rigged and that others were to blame.
This was a real-time example of something I’d learned a few weeks earlier about narrative change from Nat Kendall-Taylor of the FrameWorks Institute at TFN’s conference: a growing number of Americans interpret the world through lenses of fatalism and othering.
It’s not just that people disagree. They’re starting from completely different premises. And when someone believes the system is out to get them, and that working together is no use, dialogue ends, problem-solving is blocked and trust in the democratic process erodes.
Sound familiar?
Cultural Mindsets as a Powerful Tool
TFN25 panelists for the session Effective Narratives In an Era of Mistrust (left to right): Jess Zetzman, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Jonathan Tran, The California Endowment; Robert Avruch, formerly of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; and Nat Kendall-Taylor of FrameWorks Institute. Photo credit: Diana Williams
Here’s the hopeful part: Mindsets can shift. With the right framing, language, and strategy, we can open up space for new perspectives to take root, changing what people believe is possible.
We dove into how mindsets shift — and what makes storytelling resonate — alongside more than 80 funders from towns and cities across the country. Together, we wrestled with a simple (but not-so-simple) question: Why do some stories shape the future, while others fade into the noise?
The workshop was moderated by Robert Avruch, who led a narrative campaign to change how Californians view housing for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Others sharing their expertise were Jonathan Tran of The California Endowment, who focuses on community infrastructure for grassroots groups to build their own narratives, and Jess Zetzman of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, whose job includes synchronizing the many different narrative efforts unfolding within her foundation.
Leaving the Echo Chamber
Kicking off the conversation, Avruch opened with a sobering truth: millions of people get their news from platforms like Fox News and Breitbart, and dismissing these audiences is a critical error. We have to resonate outside of liberal echo chambers.
This is where cultural mindsets come in.
Cultural mindsets are part of how we process information — intellectually, emotionally, and through unconscious beliefs, Kendall-Taylor said. We all hold multiple mindsets at once, and they can shift over time. But these dominant mindsets are fueling division in our national political and cultural discourse:
Individualism: the belief that outcomes like health or economic status are solely the result of personal choices, overlooking systemic forces at play.
Fatalism: a sense of helplessness in the face of complex problems like climate change and inequality, reinforcing a belief that “the system is rigged” and leading to widespread disengagement.
Other-ism: An “us vs. them” mentality that weakens empathy and solidarity across race, class, or geography.
When fatalism, individualism, and othering dominate, it’s harder to imagine shared solutions or care about the common good. Democracy requires a sense of shared fate, and these mindsets fracture that foundation. (Here’s a timely example of this phenomenon.)
Nearly three-quarters of Americans believe that the system is rigged, across all incomes and ages, Kendall-Taylor said.
The Battle for Common Sense
The Effective Narratives In an Era of Mistrust session drew a packed audience at our TFN25 anniversary conference in Baltimore. Photo credit: Diana Williams
So if people have certain mindsets, what’s the best way to speak in ways that resonate? Some common mistakes to avoid:
Don’t frame everything as a crisis. Too often, messaging from advocates and foundations leans on crisis, urgency, and despair. This can lead to burnout and inaction.
Offer Specific Solutions: Instead of presenting overwhelming problems like “solve climate change” or “fix our broken electoral system,” offer digestible actions: “install solar panels on rooftops” or “increase the number of voting locations.” Match the scope of the problem with the scale of the solution.
Don’t Correct Mistakes/Untruths: The research shows that people mis-remember myths as true and this gets worse over time, Kendall-Taylor said. Instead of correcting fake news, find the narrative that moves the story you want to tell and put it on repeat.
Describe the Problem, Not the People. Labels like “vulnerable,” “environmentalist,” or “conservative” can trigger assumptions and shut down listening. Kendall-Taylor called this pre-motivated reasoning — when people hear a word and think, “That’s not me.” Instead of short-handing, describe the problem. Rather than “vulnerable communities,” say, “communities where families lack access to safe housing or clean water.” This invites empathy and avoids triggering an “othering” response.
Change is Constant
Offering hope, Kendall-Taylor reminded us that contests for narrative power take place all the time.
Voting laws, smoking bans, seatbelt laws, and marriage equality are just a few examples of ideas that moved from fringe to mainstream, forcing public policy shifts along the way as they become “common sense.”
Reframing ideas to connect with the values people hold — and offering a hopeful path forward — is at the heart of a successful narrative. And once you find the right message, Kendall-Taylor emphasized, repeat it again and again.
Narrative Power for Health Equity
Jess Zetzman shared insights from her work with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the HealthEquity Narrative initiative. Her team has created the HealthEquity Narrative House — a framework uniting changemakers with a shared story rooted in justice, equity, and community.
One key challenge? Many people working in health and racial equity don’t see themselves as part of a movement, she said, even though they’re working toward the same goal. Zetzman’s work focuses on creating more alignment — not through uniform language, but by rallying around shared values and narratives that resonate across sectors.
Within RWJF, her team is also mapping narrative investments, coding grants that support storytelling, and creating affinity groups to deepen collaboration. This methodical, ecosystem-wide approach is beginning to pay off.
Narrative as Infrastructure
Jonathan Tran of The California Endowment reminded us that narrative isn’t a one-off campaign — it’s infrastructure. Like organizing or advocacy, storytelling must be nurtured, funded, and sustained over time.
Tran focuses on building narrative power in communities — especially those historically denied the right to tell their own stories. This work amplifies grassroots voices, supports cultural workers, and centers lived experience in discussions about health, safety, housing, and justice.
When communities own their own narrative, they build more than the power of persuasion; they build actual power — the foundation for long-term change.
The Role of Philanthropy
Across foundations large and small, Avruch observed there’s lack of alignment in three key areas:
Research: The research ecosystem is fragmented, with little connection between what’s being produced. This leads to wasted consultant resources, as the same questions are asked repeatedly.
Aligning actors / table-setting: While efforts are underway to bring key players together — such as frontline advocates, journalists, and others — there’s often no clear space for shared strategy, collaboration, or collective action.
Resourcing it all: Coordination between funders remains a significant gap, complicating the work across the board.
Where Next?
Nat Kendall-Taylor of FrameWorks Institute presents on the need to collaborate and organize around cultural mindsets and narratives at TFN25. Photo credit: Diana Williams
For all our talk of alignment, philanthropy remains famously individualistic. Can we still afford that? This was the unspoken challenge on the table by the end of the workshop.
Philanthropy’s long-view and flexibility are powerful assets. What would it take to step outside funder silos, beyond cultural and political echo chambers? What would it take to let go of assumptions each foundation might have about what will work, and develop broader narrative strategies that tap into what genuinely moves people to act?
We’re not starting from scratch, our panelists noted. Narratives change all the time — and this moment is living proof.
Stay connected: If you're a funder looking to continue peer learning around journalism, media and narrative change, please reach out to TFN's Senior Director of Communications Tere Figueras Negrete at tere@fundersnetwork.org.
About the Author
Diana Williams is program manager for Smart Growth California, an initiative of The Funders Network. Based in Sacramento, Diana has a background in journalism, nonprofit leadership and philanthropy. Learn more about Diana and the Smart Growth California team here.
➡️Read more TFN25 Reflections
- Ron Milam, director of Smart Growth California, shares his Top 5 TFN25 Takeaways
- Kerry Hastings of TFN's Urban Water Funders shares her thoughts on Water, Workforce, and Ways Forward: Urban Water Funders at TFN25
Advocacy Spotlight: Families for Safe Streets
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: Families for Safe Streets
Nominated by: Natalie Draisin, Director, North America Office and United Nations Representative, FIA Foundation
Families for Safe Streets hosted the Queens Children's March Street Safety in March 2024 following a deadly crash that killed a child in the New York City community. The march drew more than 300 participants, most of them families from the school districts in the areas.
About Families for Safe Streets
Families for Safe Streets (FSS) is at the forefront of a movement to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries by addressing one of the most significant yet preventable causes of crashes: speeding. Their work is rooted in evidence-based solutions, including advocating for 20mph speed limits and promoting Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology, both of which are proven to save lives.
FSS is driven by the lived experiences of crash survivors and families who have lost loved ones to traffic violence. Their advocacy is not only personal but also deeply impactful in shaping policy at the local, state, and national levels. In 2024 alone, they successfully passed legislation in New York State to allow 20mph speed limits, played a key role in Washington D.C.’s adoption of ISA for reckless drivers, and helped introduce ISA legislation in six states.
The organization prioritizes equity by focusing on the disproportionate impact of unsafe roadways on marginalized communities. Lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color often face higher rates of traffic violence due to historical underinvestment in safe infrastructure. By advocating for lower speed limits and ISA technology — especially for the most reckless drivers — FSS is actively working to make streets safer for those who need it most. Their coalition-building efforts, which include organizations such as AARP-NY, the United Federation of Teachers, and the National Transportation Safety Board, reflect their commitment to a broad, intersectional approach to roadway safety.
Families for Safe Street members at the official signing ceremony for Sammy's Law with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in May 2024, following almost five years of campaigning.
About Their Impact
One of Families for Safe Streets’ most significant victories in 2024 was the passage of Sammy's Law, a bill that allows NYC to limit speeds to 20mph, a historic policy change that aligns with global best practices. The implementation of these lower speed limits began in October 2024, with FSS leading efforts to secure community support across New York City through advocacy at local Community Board meetings. Their persistent efforts have made New York City a national model, demonstrating that such policies are achievable even in the most complex urban environments.
In addition to their work on speed limits, FSS has been instrumental in advancing Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) legislation. Their advocacy led to the passage of an ISA for Reckless Drivers bill in Washington D.C., and they played a major role in pushing similar legislation in California (SB961). Despite the California governor’s veto following an aggressive lobbying campaign by auto manufacturers, FSS successfully brought national attention to ISA, laying the groundwork for further legislative victories. The latest news of success comes from their state-level ISA push. They have successfully passed bills through three legislatures in the past four months: Virginia, Georgia, and Washington State. They are working on additional bills in New York State, California, Maryland, and Arizona. Their hope is to dramatically expand the number of state-level bills introduced across the country next year.
In December 2024, they co-founded a national ISA coalition, which has already introduced legislation in six states, including Virginia, where a bill is making its way through the legislature. Through strategic advocacy, grassroots organizing, and an unwavering commitment to traffic safety, Families for Safe Streets is proving that bold policy changes can save lives. Their work is not just about changing laws—it’s about shifting cultural norms and ensuring that safe streets are a right, not a privilege.
Families for Safe Streets supporters celebrate a successful community board vote to redesign the most dangerous corridor on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in 2016. The campaign took more than three years, and was prompted by a string of particularly horrible crashes in the community.
Learn More
Learn more about Families for Safe Streets work at this upcoming webinar, How Technology Can Stop Super Speeders on Monday, May 7 at 2 p.m. ET.
Featured Image: Following a crash that killed two children in Brooklyn, around 1,000 people participated in the 2018 Brooklyn Children's Rally for Street Safety
Photo Credit: All photos provided by Families for Safe Streets.
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
TFN Joins 'Unite in Advance' Solidarity Campaign
The Funders Network is proud to sign on to the Unite in Advance campaign supporting philanthropy’s “freedom to give” in the face of increased threats from governmental attacks.
The campaign launched Wednesday with a piece in Nonprofit Quarterly authored by McKnight Foundation President Tonya Allen, MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey, and Freedom Together Foundation President Deepak Bhargava.
"It’s no secret: Foundations could be the next American institutions under attack," they write. "Why does this matter? Because millions of people across the nation depend on nonprofits to meet their basic needs — and those nonprofits depend on resources from foundations to deliver important services, support their communities, and pay their workers."
Their piece outlines three steps foundations can take right now to stand with each other and the people and communities we serve:
- Prepare for what's coming, but don't obey in advance.
- Stand in solidarity with each other.
- Step up to provide more support to communities who need us.
➡️ You can read the full piece here.
A Public Statement from Philanthropy
Dozens of foundations and philanthropy serving organizations have already signed on to the Unite in Advance solidarity statement below, including a number of TFN members:
Everyone—wherever we're from or whatever our point of view—wants to live in a nation that upholds the fundamental rights and liberties we all deserve and need to thrive.
As charitable giving organizations – private and family foundations, community foundations, corporate foundations, and more – we contribute to communities in every corner of America. Together, we support new parents and elders, veterans and school children, hospitals and libraries, churches and food kitchens, artists and researchers, throughout rural, suburban, and urban communities in every state and territory. Yet in this moment, we face the threat of governmental attacks on our ability to carry out this vital mission, when the communities, organizations, and individuals we support need it most.
We don’t all share the same beliefs or priorities. Neither do our donors or the communities we serve. But as charitable giving institutions, we are united behind our First Amendment right to give as an expression of our own distinct values. Especially in this time of great need, we must have the freedom to direct our resources to a wide variety of important services, issues, and places, to improve lives today and build a stronger future for our country. The health and safety of the American people, our nation’s economic stability, and the vibrancy of our democracy depend on it.
➡️ To read the full list of signatories, or to submit our own organization to the list, please visit the solidarity statement webpage coordinated by the Council on Foundations.
TFN Board Elections & Updates: Warm Welcome & Fond Farewells
BY Dion Cartwright, TFN President & CEO
The Funders Network's work centers on cultivating courageous philanthropic leaders who are engaged, emboldened and equipped to bring about a just society.
TFN's membership undertakes an important task each year: the election of our Board of Directors, which plays an essential role in ensuring we remain a robust, connected and mission-driven organization.
I’m excited to share several updates about TFN’s Board of Directors, including the addition of a new member to our board: Treye Johnson, a program director at the George Gund Foundation, which is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
Treye leads the foundation’s grantmaking focused on economic justice and community power. He has been involved with TFN’s Inclusive Economies working group, as well as its predecessor, the Restoring Prosperity in Older Industrial Cities working group.
Treye originally joined Gund as a Fellow from 2013 to 2015 before working on program development and community engagement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He re-joined the Gund team in 2022. Treye also previously worked as a program officer at Burton D. Morgan Foundation, which focused on entrepreneurship education on the youth, collegiate and adult levels.
A former high school athletic director with a master's degree in sports administration, he currently serves as athletic director at his son's school.
Our network’s Board of Directors reflects the depth and breadth of our membership, representing a range of grantmaking institutions and a wealth of professional expertise and lived experience.
In addition to Treye, this recent slate of candidates included four returning board members.
The board approved the 2025 – 2027 slate of directors at its January meeting, and the slate was elected by virtual ballot among TFN's organizational membership in March.
Read on to learn more about this year’s slate of candidates, as well as the board officers elected by the Board of Directors at their January meeting. (For more information on TFN's board selection and election criteria, please read our Election FAQ page.)
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. 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 me directly at dcartwright@fundersnetwork.org.
Second Term
Isabel Barrios
Director for Disaster Recovery and Resilience
Greater New Orleans Foundation
Lisa Jacobson
Senior Program Officer, Mobility
Barr Foundation
and TFN PLACES Alum
Nathaniel Smith
Founder and Chief Equity Officer
Partnership for Southern Equity
Third Term
Sheena Solomon
Executive Director
The Gifford Foundation
and TFN PLACES Alum
Board Officers
Officers are elected for a one-year term, except the chairperson, who has a two-year term.The current chair is at the mid-point of her two-year term.
Chairperson
(2024-2026)
Sheena Solomon
Executive Director
The Gifford Foundation
and TFN PLACES Alum
Vice Chairperson
(2025-2026)
Surabhi Pandit
Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Community Engagement
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and TFN PLACES Alum
Treasurer
(2025-2026)
Karla Twedt-Ball
President & CEO
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Secretary
(2025-2026)
Lisa Jacobson
Senior Program Officer, Mobility
Barr Foundation and TFN PLACES Alum
Fond Farewells
The January meeting of TFN's Board of Directors marked the final board meeting for members Chan Brown of the Kansas Health Foundation and Don Hickman of the Initiative Foundation.
We're grateful to Chan and Don for their dedication to the board and support for TFN's broader mission. Don's time on the board also included serving as board chairperson from 2022-2024.
Thank you, Chan and Don!
With Gratitude
We’d also like to share our appreciation for the sitting board members who were not up for reelection this year:
Jessica Boehland
Kresge Foundation
Nathan Boon
William Penn Foundation
Kaying Hang
The Center at Sierra Health Foundation
Janel M. Hines
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Elizabeth Love
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
Surabhi Pandit
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Kumar Raj
W. K. Kellogg Foundation
Mark Tran
The California Endowment
Thank you to all of our board members, past and present, for your service!
Featured image: TFN Board Chair Sheena Solomon greets Treye Johnson, the newest addition to the board, at TFN's 25th Anniversary Conference in March. Photo credit: Jen Sapienza
How are TFN board members selected? 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 2025-2027 election brings the total number of board members to 14.
Who gets to vote in TFN Board of Directors elections?
TFN’s Board of Directors met in January 2025 to approve the slate of candidates. TFN member organizations in good standing received electronic ballots to cast their votes, which were due in March. 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.
Featured image: TFN Board Member Kaying Hang shares the results of the board elections at TFN’s 25th Anniversary Conference in Baltimore in March. Photo credit: Jen Sapienza
Meet TFN's 2025 PLACES Fellows!
BY Dion Cartwright, President & CEO, and Talissa Lahaliyed, Equity Programs Manager
We’re honored to announce the 2025 PLACES Fellowship cohort — a remarkable group of philanthropic leaders who are deeply committed to advancing intersectional equity and driving lasting, positive change in communities across the U.S. and Canada.
As we mark the 15th anniversary of the PLACES Fellowship, we’re filled with both pride and a profound sense of urgency.
Our communities are facing compounding crises, from the enduring impacts of systemic racism and economic inequality to the ongoing threats of climate change and political polarization. Investing in courageous leadership in these challenging and uncertain times is not just important, it is imperative.
Agents of Change
Since its inception, PLACES — which stands for Professionals Learning About Community, Equity and Sustainability — has equipped philanthropic leaders with the knowledge, tools, and relationships needed to confront structural racism and embed equity into their work.
Over the past decade and a half, PLACES has grown into more than a learning experience: It is a powerful network of more than 200 alums who are challenging the status quo, shifting philanthropic practices, and supporting community-led solutions that prioritize those most impacted by environmental, economic and social inequities.
The 2025 PLACES cohort represents the very best of this ongoing work. These funders come from across the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Hawai’i and Canada, and reflect a rich diversity of geographies, cultures, identities, and lived experiences
Their work spans urban and rural communities alike, and they represent a broad spectrum of grantmaking institutions. What unites them is a shared desire to create a more inclusive and just world, whether through their personal journeys or professional endeavors.
Investing in Leadership
We want to extend thanks to the TFN members and investors whose support makes PLACES possible year after year.
We also want to acknowledge institutional support provided by the PLACES Fellows’ organizations, and the investment of time and resources needed to participate in this professional development opportunity.
Their commitment is a reminder that by investing in people, we are investing in the transformative change our communities deserve and our sector needs.
On behalf of the PLACES Leadership Network, the selection committee (comprised entirely of PLACES alums), and the entire TFN community, please join us in congratulating the 2025 PLACES Fellows!
New Plenary Update! Susan Taylor Batten, Temi F. Bennett & Alice Y. Hom to speak at TFN's 25th Anniversary Conference
BY TFN STAFF
In today’s complex social and political landscape, bold leadership is more critical than ever — yet those who take courageous stands often face backlash, diminished resources, physical threats, and pressure to water down their work.
Those challenges can be even more pronounced for leaders of color, especially those carrying multiple identities, amid concerted efforts to undermine and attack the values, policies, and programs that support intersectional diversity, equity and inclusion.
Are foundations truly ready, willing and able to ensure leaders of color not only survive but thrive in these tumultuous times?
Join us March 17-19 in Baltimore for TFN's 25th Anniversary Conference: Be Bold Together, where we'll welcome three powerful voices to our main stage to share their lived experiences and strategies for supporting courageous leadership in the face of internal and external adversity.
Our Monday Plenary Panel: Supporting and Protecting Bold Leaders of Color will feature Susan Taylor Batten of ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities, Temi F. Bennett of iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility and Alice Y. Hom of CHANGE Philanthropy
This plenary session will explore how and why organizations and individuals should step up to ensure bold leaders of color have the resources, networks, and environments necessary to not only survive but thrive — and build stronger and more effective teams in the process.
➡️Read on to learn more about TFN25 and our Monday Plenary Panel, and be sure to check out our learning agenda for a full list of plenary presenters and other speakers.
About the Panelists
Susan Taylor Batten
President & CEO
ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities.
ABFE is a membership-driven philanthropic organization that champions responsive and transformative investment in Black communities. Since 2009, Taylor Batten has spearheaded ABFE's philanthropic counsel and initiatives on responsive philanthropy for Black communities, aiding foundation leaders, donors, and partners.
Bringing over 25 years of leadership in both private and public sectors to ABFE, she previously held positions with the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Community Change Initiatives Unit, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture overseeing research and evaluation of food assistance programs, and with the Government of the District of Columbia as an analyst focusing on child and family support initiatives.
She serves on the boards of the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance and Giving Gap and regularly lectures at HBCUs about philanthropy in Black communities.
Temi F. Bennett
Co-CEO
iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility
iF envisions a world where Black people and people of the global majority live powerfully, abundantly and beautifully in healthy, self-determined communities free of social, economic and ideological violence.
Bennett has been the driver of iF's embrace of reparations as an essential element of any effort to advance racial justice. She co-led an effort in partnership with the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy to create the 2024 report Cracks in the Foundation: Philanthropy’s Role in Reparations for Black People in the DMV.
The report developed and executed a methodology that examines D.C.-based foundation endowments to determine if Black communities were harmed in their creation.
She also co-founded and is a member of Resourcing Radical Justice (RRJ), a funders collective that centers Black liberation as the path to a thriving greater Washington region and s a member of the policy table and the reparations working group of Movement 4 Black Lives (M4BL).
Alice Y. Hom,
Executive Director
CHANGE Philanthropy
CHANGE Philanthropy is a coalition of philanthropic networks working together to strengthen bridges across funders and communities.They seek to transform philanthropy from within by building knowledge, fostering diversity, and creating connections. Prior to joining CHANGE, Hom worked on educating funders on operationalizing racial justice with an intersectional lens as the Director of Equity and Social Justice at Northern California Grantmakers.
Hom currently serves on the board of the American LGBTQ+ Museum and on the Advisory Council for the Conscious Style Guide, a resource on inclusive, respectful and empowering language on ability/disability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, sexuality, and socioeconomic status.
Alice is a co-editor of two anthologies, Q & A: Voices from Queer Asian North America and Q & A: Queer in Asian America.
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How we're meeting the moment at TFN's 25th Anniversary Conference in Baltimore
BY Dion Cartwright, TFN President & CEO
It’s only been a few weeks since the start of the new presidential administration.
Almost immediately, we’ve been confronted with a barrage of policy shifts designed to upend environmental protections, disrupt federal funding to essential programs and unravel decades of social and economic progress.
Many of these actions are aimed directly at already marginalized groups, threatening their physical safety and throttling access to opportunity, education, housing and healthcare.
Now more than ever, we need leaders in philanthropy willing to move resources in service of environmental, economic and racial justice.
So how can you best be of service in this moment?
By deepening your knowledge, aligning your strategies and honing your skills as effective grantmakers committed to the communities and causes you care about.
Next month, our network of funders and partners will gather in Baltimore for TFN’s 25th Anniversary Conference: Be Bold Together. Our annual conferences and other year-round learning opportunities always seek to center those most harmed by the intersecting impacts of environmental, economic and racial injustice. Those values are embedded in our network’s DNA.
But we recognize the urgency of the moment. That’s why the learning agenda for this year’s conference sets aside time to unpack political impacts on our work and identify opportunities for individual and collective action.
I'm especially thrilled that we'll welcome noted civil rights attorney and activist Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, as our TFN25 Closing Plenary presenter.
We also recognize that many of our members have been successfully navigating divisive political climates at the state and local levels for years — and have managed to score big wins in the process.
We’re creating space for them to share their insights and strategies in Baltimore as well.
Below are just a few highlights on our TFN25 learning agenda designed to help us navigate the road ahead.
Shared Learning and Collaboration
Given the enormity of the challenges we are facing, it’s tempting to put our own professional development on the back burner.
You may even feel a little guilty taking time to attend a conference, especially if you are working with communities feeling the immediate fallout from hateful policies or recovering from climate disasters.
But we need leaders who are emboldened, engaged and energized to meet this moment.
Regardless of your funding focus, I encourage you to venture beyond the silos and find common cause and opportunities to collaborate with other funders.
To support team learning and action-building within your organization, TFN is offering our members discounted group registration rates.
I hope you’ll join me in my hometown of Baltimore – and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
Plenary Panel: Federal Funding on the Frontlines of Climate Change
Just three years into an ambitious federal commitment to deeply invest in climate and clean energy work in ways that advance justice and equity, the ground has shifted.
Moderated by Helen Chin of the Communities First Fund, our panel discussion will feature Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, formerly of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Dr. Sacoby Wilson of the University of Maryland; and Meishka L. Mitchell of the Emerald Cities Collaborative.
TFN, along with our partners at the Health and Environmental Funders Network and Neighborhood Funders Group, has convened hundreds of philanthropic, grassroots, and government leaders to explore the priorities and align the strategies needed to unlock federal funds and move projects forward. These included supporting a series of regional convenings organized by Communities First.
I’m eager to learn more from our TFN25 plenary panelists about how philanthropy can step up in this moment to support community partners, secure available funding, and drive sustainable and equitable infrastructure projects.
Bolder Advocacy | Critical Conversations
Tim Mooney, senior counsel with the Bolder Advocacy Program at Alliance for Justice, will be available for free, one-on-one technical assistance sessions. He’ll answer questions and offer guidance on how foundations can engage in advocacy, as well as support their grantees’ advocacy work, without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.
Critical Conversations
Tim will also be on hand to lead one of our Critical Conversations, which are facilitated peer-to-peer conversations for funders to explore difficult issues in a frank and confidential setting. Critical Conversation: Post-election Legal Landscape is one of several Critical Conversations on this year’s agenda that speak to this singular moment.
Visit our TFN25 Agenda for more information about our Critical Conversation facilitators, who are leading sessions focused on Post-election Organizing and Movement Building, Immigration and Migrant Support, Reimagining Philanthropy and Beyond Allyship.
Effective Narratives in an Era of Mistrust
This Skill-building Workshop looks at how political polarization and subjective “facts” threaten democracy.
Nat Kendall-Taylor of the FrameWorks Institute will lead us through how and why certain narratives succeed, offer insights into ways to reframe complex issues, and share examples that have inspired action.
Building Power for Environmental Justice in Challenging Political Climates
Join this Concurrent Session to learn strategies that groups in the heart of the fossil fuel industry are using to build power for environmental justice communities and working-class people of color.
We’ll hear from innovators supporting climate funding infrastructure and ecosystems of organizations in the South, and changemakers leading the charge for a just transition to renewable resources in oil-rich Texas.
This panel features Vanessa Toro Barragán of the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice, Claudia Magana of Organized Power in Numbers, Frances Valdez of Houston in Action, and Billy Briscoe of Clean Energy Fund of Texas.
Focus on Community-Driven Solutions
From small, rural community organizations to large urban foundations, our robust network of funders reflects a broad spectrum of philanthropic work across a range of issues.
Our equity-focused learning agenda centers those most harmed by the intersecting impacts of environmental, economic and racial injustice – and highlights the philanthropic investments that support movement and power-building at the local level.
Baltimore has long been a crucible for progressive action and creative thinking, where grassroots movements and community-driven initiatives have emerged in response to systemic issues.
We’ll get a chance to learn from local changemakers making a difference across Baltimore on our popular Mobile Tours, including the positive impact local HBCUs are having on neighboring communities.
These are just a few of the sessions taking place at our 25th Anniversary Conference. You won't want to miss it!
About the Author
Dion Cartwright is president and CEO of The Funders Network. You can learn more about Dion on our TFN Team page.
Featured Image: Baltimore's Black Arts District | @officialblackartsdistrict
Maya Wiley, Civil Rights Attorney & Activist, Will Close Out TFN's 25th Anniversary Conference in Baltimore!
BY TFN STAFF
We are thrilled to announce that Maya Wiley, a nationally respected civil rights attorney and activist, will join us in Baltimore to close out TFN's 25th Anniversary Conference: Be Bold Together!
As we navigate an unprecedented era that threatens our democracy, undermines our civil liberties and jeopardizes the wellbeing of our communities and planet, how do we stay anchored in who we are and the work before us?
Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, will share her expertise and insight in a powerful Closing Plenary focused on turning adversity into action that creates lasting change.
The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights is the oldest and largest civil rights coalition in the U.S. Now in its 75th year, the coalition serves as a strategic hub for more than 200 member organizations fighting to protect, defend and expand civil rights across the U.S.
Wiley has dedicated her own life to the fights for justice, equality and fairness.
She is a former legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, was the first Black woman to serve as counsel to the mayor of New York City and was a senior advisor on race and poverty at the Open Society Foundations.
She also co-founded the nonprofit Center for Social Inclusion, an organization that focused on transforming structural racism into fair opportunity at the intersection of race and poverty as it relates to education, the digital divide, land use planning, the green economy, and more. (The center merged with Race Forward in 2017.)
Wiley is the author of Remember, You Are a Wiley, politically-charged memoir that draws on her upbringing in a household that prioritized activism, hope and resilience above all else: Her father was a noted leader in the civil rights and economic justice movements, work that landed him on President Nixon’s enemies list, while her mother organized third-party political platforms.
We hope you'll join us for Wiley's Closing Plenary at TFN25 as she explores how we can leverage our collective power to transcend division and meet this moment.
➡️Check out our TFN25 Anniversary Conference website to view our Learning Agenda, Accessibility and Wellbeing policies, and more.