Five Ways Funders Can Support Policy Action Amid a Turbulent Political Landscape

For those of us who are not in the habit of following the daily give and take of Washington policymaking, this year has been a crash course in skinny budgets and the latitude of presidential executive orders. Contrary to early hopes that a Trump Administration might channel resources to the struggling places that ushered it into office, recent funding proposals and policy actions seem designed…

Are You the Future of Philanthropy? Apply for a 2018 TFN PLACES Fellowship!

Grow your network. Lead the way. Be the change. Our PLACES Fellowship is a transformational leadership development experience that gives professionals in philanthropy the tools, knowledge, and best practices needed to embed an equity lens into their work. PLACES fellows embark on a year-long process focused on creating more equitable neighborhoods and communities — and learning how to turn…

Save the Date! Charting a Climate, Health, and Equity Agenda

Save the Date! Charting a Climate, Health, and Equity Agenda: Investing in Those Most Impacted to Improve Health and the Environment Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 Detroit, Mich.   Every community faces serious health, water, air, and infrastructure challenges from climate change and the forces driving it. But climate change also represents a historic opportunity to make a positive, even…

Lead Exposure in Drinking Water is a Serious Health Risk. How Can Funders Help?

"The critical connection between water and health can be found in almost every aspect of our lives. For most, this link is the water from the taps in our homes, where we expect to find clean, safe water to drink, shower, brew coffee, and brush our teeth. The recent tragedy in Flint, Michigan has reminded us that we should not take access to safe drinking water for granted. Children are…

A few words with Kris Archie: PLACES Fellow and the new Executive Director of The Circle

This post is cross-posted from The Circle.  PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF… I am a mother, sister, and aunty. I share the adventures of life with my partner Jr Olson and my 17-year-old son, Shadowhawk. I am blessed to be surrounded by lots of good people, both biological and chosen family that keep my heart filled with laughter, good meals, and celebration. I grew up in a small…

Support for Climate Action and Paris Agreement Goals

As part of  our ongoing commitment to helping philanthropy build sustainable, resilient and prosperous communities, TFN, along with other affinity groups, recently released this joint letter encouraging funders to show their support for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change: Dear Philanthropy Colleagues, On behalf of Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA), the Consultative Group on…

Searching for Answers in Miami: Where Beauty Blurs Reality…

I jumped at the opportunity to reflect on my first site visit as a member of the 2017 PLACES Fellowship cohort. I felt compelled to share and work through a few observations that confounded and still perplex me. I hoped to stimulate a conversation with an audience larger than the ones I typically have the privilege of addressing. But if I am honest, I found this exercise far more difficult…

Request For Proposals Now Available for Partners for Places Round Eleven!

RFP Now Available for Partners for Places Round Eleven Proposals Due July 31, 2017 Request For Proposal In partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) is pleased to announce the opening of Round Eleven of the Partners for Places grant program. Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that…

Join us for the 2017 Community Change Learning Exchange!

What is the Community Change Learning Exchange? The Community Change Learning Exchange (CCLE) aims to provide a means to unlock and share lessons learned, what works, what doesn’t and what still remains to be learned, as well as to create a safe space for funders to discuss not only past, but current challenges they are experiencing in community change work. Check out our agenda! Our CCLE…

Stormwater Funders’ Group: Workforce and Green Infrastructure Webinar

As the field of green infrastructure expands, a qualified workforce is needed to design, install and maintain green stormwater practices. Join TFN's Stormwater Funders' Group for its quarterly learning webinar, "Workforce and Green Infrastructure," Tuesday, June 20, at 3 p.m. ET/ noon PT. Jobs For the Future recently examined the workforce needed to support the demand for green infrastructure…