We hope that you are safe, supported, and healthy in this unprecedented public health and economic crisis. The NFG team has spent the last several weeks adjusting to this altered way of life — providing time off for staff, calling for social solidarity, urging funders to scale up and move money to communities of color on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking ways to highlight the particular impact of this moment on communities of color, low-wage workers, disabled, Deaf, and ill communities — and thoughtfully considering how to shift our work and programs.
We had looked forward to bringing hundreds of funders from across the country together in Washington, D.C. for our 2020 National Convening to celebrate four decades of mobilizing philanthropy, as well as collectively look toward the future and what is possible in the current era of organized philanthropy.
With this message, we’re announcing that NFG will be pivoting to virtual offerings for our 2020 National Convening. While we are sad we won’t be gathering in-person, we made this decision because the health and safety of the NFG community is paramount and we have deepened our understanding of the disability justice practice to resist the pull and pressure of productivity at any cost. We are also mindful that community organizations and funders are working hard to respond in this moment.
Keep reading for more details on NFG’s 2020 Virtual Convening: 40 Years Strong.
NFG’S VIRTUAL CONVENING: 40 YEARS STRONG
We will kickoff our virtual convening series with plenaries on our original dates: Tuesday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 1. These plenaries will focus on 40 years of power building and the current political moment and shifting accountability in philanthropy from boards to communities. We will also host additional convening webinars featuring member-led content throughout the rest of the year.
CONVENING REGISTRATION
If you’ve already registered for our convening and are in a position to donate your registration fees to NFG, this gesture will help us shift our programming to a virtual format and offset convening costs already incurred. We understand that not all of you are able to donate your registration fees and will issue a full refund to anyone who makes this request. To request a refund, please contact our Convening Logistics Consultants at registration@girlfridayevents.com by Friday, May 15. No additional action is needed to convert your registration fees to a donation.
If you haven’t yet registered but would like to participate in our virtual convening series, please stay tuned for updates in May.
For questions about sponsorships or accommodations, please visit our convening website for more details.
CONNECT WITH NFG & SHARE YOUR STORIES
Our celebrations of NFG’s 40th anniversary as a space to draw support as we propel philanthropy to shift power and money towards justice and equity will continue virtually!
To help us look back on our 40 dynamic years, we are collecting stories and memories from the NFG community to share at the end of 2020. If you have a story about how NFG has supported your philanthropic leadership, how our programming has deepened your political education, or how you found co-conspirators to move more resources to racial, economic, gender, and climate justice through the NFG community, we would love to hear from you! Please fill out this form to share your story.
Thank you for being part of the NFG community when moving resources to communities that disproportionately bear the brunt of this public health and economic disaster is vital — now and into the future.
In solidarity,
Adriana Rocha, Interim Co-Director
Shona Chakravartty, Hill-Snowdon Foundation, Convening Co-Chair and NFG Board Member
Mary Sobecki, Needmor Fund, Convening Co-Chair and NFG Board Member