Dear NFG Community,
I hope that you’re finding an abundance of joy and reflection as we move towards the end of this year, and that you can radically rest and connect with your loved ones before the beginning of 2023.
I last wrote to you in June, right as Neighborhood Funders Group embarked on a leadership transition period and I moved into the Interim President role. In that message, I shared my belief that strength comes from the work and unity of the collective, and showing up for each other with care. In the months since I took on interim leadership at NFG, I have leaned into our community of members and my relationships in our sector to gather strength, center in purpose, and find joy in the work. You all have already returned that with an abundance of offerings of support and connection. I am deeply grateful, and I look forward to more in the new year.
The demands of our fight for racial, gender, economic, disability, and climate justice are enormous. And, NFG’s work to organize philanthropy to respond with abundance and ease for BIPOC and low income communities is critical. We know our mandate is to move money and liberate philanthropic assets to build community power and resilient organizations (as Maurice Mitchell so aptly articulated in his November 2022 article). This work is deeply relational and one of the reasons that I love the NFG community is because we are dedicated to organizing funders collectively and with purpose.
NFG is a place for grantmakers to build, think creatively, and relate to one another amidst the heaviness of the world because we believe that philanthropy has a role to play in moving all of us toward liberation and self-determination.
I know I speak for all of us on staff when I say we are looking forward to working together with you next year. And, perhaps, seeing you in person more often!
Here are opportunities to strategize and build with NFG next year:
- On January 25 and 26, join us for our third annual Multiracial Rural Equity Summit. This two day event organized by NFG’s Integrated Rural Strategies Group will support funders in deepening their rural grantmaking strategies.
- Interested in worker power building in the midwest? On January 31, NFG’s Midwest Organizing Infrastructure Funders and Funders for a Just Economy are hosting an interactive virtual fireside chat with organizers followed by a facilitated funders-only session to support processing, community building, and strategy development to think collectively how to support the Midwest ecosystem of worker power building.
- A brand new virtual, three-part series on community organizing, racial capitalism 101, and the principles & practices of better grantmaking will be offered between January and April. We’ll announce registration details in 2023!
- Build your skills to advance an inclusive economy as a remedy to racial capitalism! We’re recruiting funders for the second cohort of our Racial Capitalism Community of Practice, which will take place over six sessions between February and July. I participated in this cohort last year and can personally attest to the power of the experience! Fill out this form to join our waitlist to participate.
- Connect with us in Wilmington during the week of May 8, 2023 at NFG’s first in-person National Convening since 2018! See our website for our convening save the date and sponsorship opportunities. The convening promises the opportunity to connect, learn, and build together.
- Become an NFG member for the first time, or renew your dues!
- And help us add more incredible folks to the NFG staff team! We’re hiring for our next Vice President of Finance and Operations.
I have so much gratitude for the NFG staff and board, our members, and the organizations and community leaders we work with on the frontlines of change.
Relationships are the key to strength and sustaining myself in this work, and I look forward to being in joyful community with all of you next year.
Sending all the best for the year ahead,
Amy
