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…
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…
A Reminder to Be Bold and Courageous Leaders
This post originally appeared in the PLACES Connection December 2023 newsletter.
BY Dion Cartwright, Director of Equitable Initiatives and Leadership Development and Incoming President and CEO
As I reflect on the last seven years at TFN and what journey lies ahead, I become full of gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for the people that I’ve had the pleasure of being in community with over…
Want to increase your grantmaking impact and revitalize local news flows? Consider funding local media collaboratives
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 guest blog post from the Solutions Journalism Network and Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University highlighting philanthropic support to local…
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…
PLACES 2024 Fellowship Applications Now Open!
We know that philanthropy attracts people who care deeply about creating positive change. But we also recognize that funders often face obstacles in turning ideals into impact — especially when faced with the prospect of untangling decades of systemic inequities that have caused grievous harm to our most historically marginalized communities.
The good news for people seeking to do good work:…
From PLACES Fellow to President & CEO: Dion Cartwright tapped to lead The Funders Network
BY Don Hickman, Chair, TFN Board of Directors
When TFN President and CEO Pat Smith announced her retirement this summer, we began the daunting but admittedly exciting work of finding a successor – one with the vision, values and strategic dexterity needed to lead our network of changemakers committed to environmental, economic and racial justice.
It turns out we didn’t have to look very…
TFN’s Member Portal is now open to all PLACES Alums!
As a PLACES Alum, you know that the deep connections and passion for learning forged during your PLACES Fellowship extend far beyond the end of your cohort year. So we're making it easier for PLACES Alums to stay engaged — even if you don't work for a TFN member organization or have moved away from philanthropy altogether.
We're excited to share that TFN's Member Portal is now open to all PLACES…
Going PLACES: Fostering a community for youth in Detroit
BY Monae Dale, Program Manager, Housing & Economic Opportunity at the California Community Foundation, and 2023 PLACES Fellow
As someone new in the philanthropy space, I was delighted to have the opportunity to apply for the PLACES fellowship as I prioritize professional development opportunities that challenge my thinking. I work as a program manager at the California Community Foundation…
Hitting Pause on Twitter/X: Our Commitment to Inclusive, Equitable Spaces – In Person and Online
BY TFN STAFF
This summer, our team decided to pause our presence on Twitter/X, given the instability of the platform — and more importantly, to gauge whether it still aligned with our values.
TFN is committed to supporting and inspiring courageous philanthropic leaders who are engaged, emboldened and equipped to bring about a just society. Social media is just one of the tools we use to…