Dear friend,
When NFG held its first-ever National Convening in Cleveland in 1995, we were known as one of the few spaces in philanthropy specifically focused on people of color-led, grassroots organizing, and power building as the key to effective social change strategies. Nearly thirty years later, funders continue to look forward to our biennial convenings as a place to come together, strategize, and have fun. Following NFG’s return to an in-person format for the 2023 National Convening in Wilmington, North Carolina, our team is pleased to announce a few details for next year's convening.
In the coming weeks, stay tuned as our team shares information about registration, submitting session proposals, scholarship opportunities, sponsorship, and more in our newsletters and on the 2025 National Convening event page.
The decision to host NFG’s next convening in Nashville builds upon six years of work in the region as movement allies and funders. In 2019, Tennessee became one of Amplify Fund’s eight places. After many conversations with local leaders, Nashville emerged as a region of focus for Amplify due to a lack of philanthropic support at the regional and national levels. In 2020, we hosted a cross-program, virtual learning visit between NFG’s Amplify Fund and Funders for a Just Economy (FJE) in collaboration with Stand Up Nashville and The Equity Alliance to highlight the history of race, labor, and organizing. A year later, FJE, in partnership with Amplify Fund, created the “Nashville: Reshaping the City Towards an Economy for All” report to expand upon NFG’s Building Power in Place project.
Though often overshadowed by Memphis to the East for its histories of civil rights and labor activism, the effects of displacement, incarceration, and underinvestment in the people of Nashville has created a burgeoning organizing ecosystem. Participants will become familiar with the city’s history and can expect to hear directly from local leaders about:
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rapid gentrification and predatory land speculation
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increasing corporate power sanctioned by state and local governments
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civic engagement and low voter turnout
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how race, immigration status, and climate disasters fuels exploitation in working-class communities
During our week at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, funders will also have opportunities to build community and connect with new co-conspirators through interactive programming, Learning Visits, and evening festivities. We’ll also be adding new elements to the 2025 National Convening, such as morning wellness programming and even more arts + culture offerings.
NFG is eager to return to the South because we often see this part of the country being written off or romanticized by philanthropy — which at best has led to paltry resources directed to the South, and at worst inaction by the sector. This network of grantmakers interested in racial, gender, economic, disability, and climate justice has the potential to move resources differently. That work starts by organizing ourselves, being accountable, and shifting power to BIPOC and low-income communities so they have the ability to self-determine their futures. We hope you join us in Nashville next July for a purposeful and joyful convening!
In solidarity,
Team NFG