BY PAT SMITH, TFN PRESIDENT & CEO

For nearly two years, we’ve had to navigate the impacts of the pandemic on our personal and professional lives, including figuring out how best to serve the people and communities we care about. That’s why I believe it is essential that we gather to share our experiences and insights if we are to seize this moment — as funders and as individuals — to bring about transformative change.

It’s why TFN is committed to coming together in San Diego for our 2022 Annual Conference: Seize the Moment March 14-16.  We pride ourselves in putting the wellbeing of people first: our members, our team, and our partners and allies. We (and our organizations) all have varying degrees of comfort when it comes to events and travelling these days, so I wanted to share the updated Health & Safety protocols in place for our annual conference.  I hope sharing these measures helps you make an informed decision about whether to join us in San Diego.  Here are the measures we have in place for TFN2022: 

  • Wearing N95, KN95 or KF94 masks/face coverings while indoors, which TFN will provide attendees.
  • Proof of vaccination with exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
  • Proof of negative antigen COVID-19 test results taken within 24 hours of check-in at the event registration desk.
  • Daily, self-administered rapid antigen testing. (TFN will have self-testing kits available for purchase at cost.)

Additionally, the TFN team is working diligently to plan for reasonable social distancing for concurrent sessions and other events at our conference venue, the US Grant Hotel.   While I truly look forward to seeing you at the conference, I also recognize and understand that the challenges presented by this pandemic haven’t hit us all evenly — especially if you or someone you care for is medically vulnerable or you have children in your household who are too young to be vaccinated. To those of you who can’t make it to San Diego, please know that we understand and are thinking of you. (And we’ll continue to offer virtual events throughout the year as part of our TFN learning agenda.)   Please take a moment to read the full Health & Safety section on our TFN2022 website.  While you’re there, be sure to check out our amazing conference agenda and other highlights!

Some of the topics we’ll explore in San Diego: 

  • How can philanthropy best support community-powered efforts to combat the climate crisis, address racial injustice and build economic opportunities?
  • As communities continue to grapple with the disastrous health, social and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, how do we ensure a truly equitable recovery?
  • How can the sector effectively advocate for equitable policies at the local, state and regional level — and leverage its reputational capital to combat disinformation and defend against the erosion of civil liberties?
  • What are the tools and strategies that can improve the outcomes and impact of grantmaking, especially for marginalized and underrepresented communities?

We recognize that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, coupled with a long-overdue national reckoning on racial justice and the ever-increasing impacts of climate crises and extreme weather, has presented us with a singular moment in history. I look forward to joining you in San Diego to expand our learning, foster collaboration and catalyze action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Patricial L. Smith is the president and CEO of The Funders Network. Pat joined The Funders Network in 2018, bringing with her a wealth of expertise in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Pat took the helm on the cusp of the network’s 20th anniversary, guiding TFN through key milestones during a pivotal moment in our history, including the launch of internal equity training for TFN’s team, an affirmation of our organizational commitment to racial equity and a new strategic framework that will govern TFN’s future direction through 2025.  Pat’s vision is to help create a generation of philanthropic leadership that is engaged and emboldened to tackle the defining issues of our era — namely pervasive racial, economic and environmental injustices — and committed to bringing about a just society. Read more about Pat and the rest of the TFN staff on our Team page. 

Photo by KlausHausmann is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA