Philanthropy Northwest

At Philanthropy Northwest we are committed to a future of equity and racial justice for all, grounded in the power of collective possibility. Join us in shaping a philanthropic ecosystem that is creative, joyful and transformative! You can learn more about our refreshed mission, vision and values here: https://ow.ly/8S1350R5SYw

I am incredibly excited to announce I have been elected to the Philanthropy Northwest Board of Directors. I am very honored to work alongside a group of diverse, multi-talented change-agents, and beautiful humans who believe like I do that we are stronger and more capable when we work together. I look forward to the good work and 'good trouble' we can do together. Thank you for welcoming me into this community of service.

📣 We had a great time at Philanthropy Northwest’s annual conference this week in our hometown of Missoula, Montana. #PNW24 A huge thank you to all who attended our session, where Ashley Morton and Steph Schilling showcased our GO! Grants Program, which offers flexible, quick-turnaround support to nonprofits that are making a big difference for kids and families in Western Montana’s rural communities. #trustbasedphilanthropy We were honored to have three local #changemakers join us – Clare Ann Harff of MAPS Media Institute, Alex Kim of Here Montana, and Laura Garber of Cultivating Connections Montana. They shared about their awesome work, and the impact of the GO! Grants Program in their communities. Thank you to our partner panelists and to Philanthropy Northwest for hosting such a fantastic conference! 🙏

Just returned from the 2024 Philanthropy Northwest Conference in Missoula, Montana, and I am filled with gratitude! The experience was incredibly wholesome. Many thanks to the organizers for their intentional focus on social and racial justice, and equity in every aspect of the program. It was inspiring to see funders and organizations come together to engage in meaningful discussions about creating a more diverse and inclusive philanthropic landscape. A key takeaway was the importance of involving and centering communities in this work. Their voices are central in shaping and driving real change, and ensuring impact is meaningful and sustainable. The sessions were thoughtfully designed, highlighting intersectional approaches to what philanthropy can, and should be. I had a joyful moment meeting Aisha Al-Amin Andriana Alexis and Valeriana Chikoti Bandua Estes from Social Justice Fund NW. Their breakout session on 'Audacious Philanthropy: When Black Femmes Lead' was incredible! I was definitely fangirling! It was inspiring to witness the powerful leadership and brilliant ideas brought forth by these remarkable Black women. I am feeling uplifted and grateful to have shared this experience with my colleagues Karri Matau and John Sese. Here’s to a more equitable and inclusive future in this sector!

Are you interested in joining the Peer Review Group for the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program? We are actively seeking qualified community members to serve as peer reviewers and invite you to consider this opportunity! You do not need a background in environmental issues to participate as a peer reviewer. Please note if you are a staff member, board member, volunteer or a consultant with an organization or group applying for a Thriving Communities grant, you would not be eligible to be a peer reviewer due to a conflict of interest. Peer reviewers will play a crucial role in evaluating grant applications to ensure that the most impactful and deserving projects receive funding. Peer reviewers will also receive an honorarium. The time commitment is an important aspect of this opportunity. Please review the anticipated time required to be a peer reviewer. For more information, visit our website here: https://bit.ly/4dfHw7q

📢 New to Philanthropy? Join Us for Philanthropy 101! Our Philanthropy 101 virtual series is designed to help those new to the sector build a solid foundation. This four-part interactive course covers the history of philanthropy, grantmaking, key sector issues and more. Plus, you'll connect with peers across the Northwest! Check out these comments from past participants about what stuck with them the most after participating in the series. First session is November 12 and spots are limited! ➡️ Register here: https://ow.ly/lUZl50TTyoC #Philanthropy101 #SkillBuilding #ProfessionalDevelopment

This week, Minerva's President and Founding Partner Joy Portella had the joy of attending Philanthropy Northwest in Missoula! Joy facilitated a panel with three incredible panelists: Kris Hermanns of Seattle Foundation, Michael Brown of Civic Commons, and Joel Combs of Microsoft. The panelists discussed how philanthropy can lead the way on affordable housing. Access to affordable housing continues to be an urgent issue for many people around the world. Minerva is proud to work alongside Seattle Foundation's Evergreen Impact Housing Fund on solutions to this crisis.

The #PNW24 conference this week was beautiful! Congratulations to the team and planning committee. As I close this chapter of my 8-year volunteer service on the Philanthropy Northwest board of directors, including my time as chair from 2019-2022 and member of the public policy committee, I am grateful for the learning that I have received from Philanthropy NW. I am proud to be among a team who has put in years of collective efforts to center racial equity in the sector and I am thankful for the opportunity to have played a small part in this important work. A special quyana to fellow board members and the dedicated staff, including former CEO Kiran Ahuja and current CEO Jill Nishi. And, of course, my colleagues Nichole Maher and Huong Vu, who have been by my side throughout this 8 year journey. As I step back, I am eager to see where the future leads and how I can continue to contribute to the philanthropic sector in a meaningful way. #PhilanthropyNorthwest #RacialEquity #InclusiveLeadership #Gratitude

Listening to Temi F. Bennett, Dorothy Brown, and Ann Mei Chang from at Philanthropy Northwest conference as they discuss this report and to center repair around data. Excellent discussion and thought provoking questions philanthropy should be asking itself. Step one- check out this report and see the data we already have that can guide these questions and the work. #pnw24

Before starting a new week, I wanted to give a big shoutout to Jill Nishi and the entire team at Philanthropy Northwest for a fantastic conference in beautiful Missoula, MT! I had a wonderful time connecting with partners from across our state and region, and I'm excited to bring back the relationships, innovation & insights to our southwest Washington community!