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…
Barr Foundation: Centering Racial Equity in Climate Grantmaking | Cross-post
As a grantee of the Barr Foundation, The Funders Network participated in an organizational racial equity self-assessment commissioned by Barr to help nonprofits working in the climate space reflect on their racial equity efforts and benchmark their progress. In this post, originally shared on the Barr Foundation's site, Climate Director Mariella Puerto shares the story and learnings behind…
Understanding Your “Why”
This post originally appeared in the PLACES Connection July 2022 newsletter.
BY Dion Cartwright, Director of Equitable Initiatives and Leadership Development
Each day we face constant reminders of the historic and current-day challenges of our society that often negatively impact our lives. I could easily list all the ways life makes you want to quit trying to change the world or change…
Forging a New Path Toward Justice
This post originally appeared in the PLACES Connection April 2022 newsletter.
BY Talissa Lahaliyed, Equity Programs Manager
“Sometimes we have to do the work even though we don’t yet see a glimmer on the horizon that it’s actually going to be possible” – Angela Davis
I’m writing this message as I prepare (physically and spiritually) for the month of Ramadan, which this year takes place from…
Greeting the New Year with Grace
This post originally appeared in the PLACES Connection January 2022 newsletter.
BY Dion Cartwright, Director of Equitable Initiatives and Leadership Development
As I kicked off 2022, I began to reflect on the past year and wondered to myself, where did the time go? Last year truly felt like a blur. In some ways I felt like I accomplished a lot. In other ways I felt like I didn’t do enough.…
Prioritize Your Humanity
This post originally appeared in the PLACES Connection September 2021 newsletter.
BY Dion Cartwright, Director of Equitable Initiatives and Leadership Development
In these recent months, and honestly this past year, I’ve discovered the power of saying no.
If you know me, you know it’s not something that comes easily. I tend to do everything in my power to say yes, to help a friend,…
Taking Time to Breathe
This post originally appeared in the PLACES Connection December 2022 newsletter.
BY Sheena Solomon, PLACES Advisory Board Chair
As many of us know, the last few years have not been the easiest; however, they’ve come with opportunities, challenges and small wins. As we all enter into a new year with new challenges, new opportunities and new wins, I encourage everyone to take time to…