Dear friend,
In these wild and trying times, I have become increasingly vigilant about spending quality time with my community: my circle of friends, family, and coworkers who support me, hold me accountable, and fill my cup. Whether I’m organizing at home in Los Angeles, or with funders across NFG’s network around the country, growing and nurturing these relationships has been a gift and a reminder that we are not experiencing rising fascism alone. That the path forward toward seeding (and ceding) transformational power exists amongst us and our communities when we are unified and clear about our agenda. And this summer’s NFG National Convening in Nashville, Tennessee was a brilliant example of the magic that can happen when we come together with purpose and joy.
I can still hear the buzz of your energy, your commitments to resourcing movements, and your calls to action. As I think about NFG’s work next year, I’m returning this year’s Convening as a roadmap of sorts—pointing us toward the people, knowledge, and tools that will guide our collective action.
If you’re also looking for a boost of inspiration, here are a few resources that can help you relive some memories from the event!
Watch this short video from the Gala and Awards Dinner at GEODIS Park, celebrating our honoree Melanie Allen, Co-Director of the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice:
Read what NFG community members had to say about the National Convening:
Thank you to each and every one of the 390 folks who joined us in Nashville! We'd also like to give a special thanks to Crys Matthews, W. Crimm Singers, and WokeThree for helping to ground NFG's 2025 National Convening in local arts and culture; and to our event photographer from Ware Media for capturing many joyful moments! See more images on our website.
Until we gather for the next National Convening, I invite you to utilize NFG as a political home for funder organizing and mobilizing resources to build countervailing power alongside movement partners, promoting collective action and experimentation towards our vision. Relationships with one another and fostering a trusted community is foundational to our ability to engage in collective action. I encourage you to stay in touch with me and other staff and Board members, join upcoming programming, and learn more about NFG membership. As we navigate what’s ahead, let’s continue to build a united front in philanthropy that will support each other and our movements for the long haul.
In solidarity,
Manisha
