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Food is essential. But how often do you consider where your food comes from?This issue of What Funders Need to Know from the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers explores the stages of the food system, from production all the way to disposal. Why is this important to philanthropy?

Because hunger, food insecurity, nutrition-related chronic disease, the health of resource lands and waterways, wages, and equal opportunity in the food economy all converge in our regional food system.

This paper explores community democracy as a cultural choice and a potential organizing system for philanthropy using stories that demonstrate its principles and practices, primarily growing from the experience of northern California communities.  This experience offers a framework of principles and a beginning set of conclusions about how philanthropy can develop productive partnerships from the perspective of a place-based, community democracy.

The COVID-19 public health and economic crisis has changed our world as we know it. As employers moved to remote work, schools shifted to distance learning, and businesses closed completely, it became clear that the impact on residents, nonprofits, and businesses was far greater than anyone could have ever imagined.

In response to the growing and evolving needs of our region, the Greater Washington Community Foundation established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to raise and rapidly deploy funding to local nonprofits providing food, shelter, educational supports, and other critical services.

From the beginning our goal was clear: to address the immediate needs and reach adversely affected communities, particularly low-income households and communities of color. We know all too well that in a crisis like this, these marginalized communities are hit the hardest, and often take the longest to recover.

In times of crises, The Community Foundation is our region’s philanthropic first responder, bringing together individuals and families, philanthropic peers, corporate partners, and local government advisors to address community issues. Building on our rich history of emergency response work, we grounded our COVID-19 response efforts in a similar coordinated approach.

This report chronicles the steps taken, under immense pressure, to develop a coordinated emergency response effort to support a broad range of needs across the region. Once again this effort has demonstrated that working in partnership and close collaboration with our philanthropic peers and local government advisors is an effective way to manage a response to both urgent and longer-term needs.

Igniting Equitable Systems Change Together

Date: Thursday, May 26
Time: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

On May 26, the Council brought together recognized thought leaders from philanthropy and nonprofits for a conversation exploring how the social sector can advance systems change.

Grantmakers and nonprofits grapple with complex, structural issues every day, and take on the difficult questions to move our collective work forward.

During a dynamic discussion, panelists shared strategies to empower proximate leaders, remove structural barriers and build the capacity of grassroots organizations, and shift mental models to challenge assumptions and strengthen nonprofit-funder relationships. After the panel, case study presenters highlighted three local examples of systems change, emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaboration, collective action, and community engagement. Then, attendees gathered together for small group discussions to unpack key takeaways and discuss their own successes and challenges with systems change.

One of the most highly regarded convenings for social sector leaders in the state, the 2022 Virtual Spring Colloquium considered the power and cultural shifts needed to advance systems change through philanthropic and nonprofit partnership.

Attendees can revisit Whova to access event features such as session recordings, exhibitor virtual booths and sponsor pages, NJ Poetry Out Loud performances, and more.