The Weekly WRAG - May 26

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

WRAG announces Ruth LaToison Ifill as
President & CEO!

We look forward to the growth and evolution of WRAG under her leadership! 

"Ruth has worked diligently to advance our mission, raise visibility, expand collaborative partnerships, and champion new ideas," said Tracye Funn of Washington Gas and WRAG Board Chair. "We are extremely grateful for her leadership, passion, and commitment as she assumes this permanent post.  We look forward to supporting her to ensure both her success and that of the WRAG organization." 

 Read the news release here.

Friday Philanthropy Call
COVID-19's Impact on the LGBTQ+ Community

Friday, June 11, 2021
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Register Here

Each month, WRAG hosts a call for DMV funders to discuss timely topics in philanthropy. Registering once registers you for the complete series!

We look forward to seeing you at this special Pride Month event!

Our June call will feature LGBTQ+ community leaders to discuss how COVID-19 has uniquely impacted those they serve. We'll also discuss the impact of the pandemic on the overlapping DMV HIV/AIDS community. 

Please note this call is for funders only. 

Featuring:

  • MODERATOR | Kristina Wertz, Funders for LGBTQ Issues
  • PANELIST | DeMarc Hickson, PhD, Us Helping Us
  • PANELIST | Naseema Shafi, Whitman-Walker Health
  • PANELIST | Sultan Shakir, SMYAL

Looking For Shared Office Space?

WRAG is currently seeking subtenants for our space at the Navy Yard! Do you know of a nonprofit or foundation looking for temporary office space? If interested, contact info@washingtongrantmakers.org.

RFPs Now Posted on WRAG Website!

Do you want more eyes on your Requests for Proposals? WRAG Members can send RFPs to healey@washingtongrantmakers.org to have them featured on this page!

Current RFPs include:

  • AdvancingCities Challenge for Black and Latina Women | JPMorgan Chase
  • Workforce Development Landscape Analysis | Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation
  • Addressing Health Disparities in our Region | Washington AIDS Partnership

WRAG Member Spotlight

The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation announced that it is extending its partnership with Catchafire for a third year to provide hundreds of DC-area nonprofits access to services from skilled volunteers at no cost. Since 2019, the Cafritz Foundation has given nonprofits access to Catchafire’s platform, connecting them to the professional help they need to build capacity. 
 
During the first two years of the partnership, DC-area nonprofits completed more than $1.4 million in projects through their Catchafire memberships, representing more than 7,338 volunteer hours and over 430 projects.  In the last year especially, Catchafire’s virtual volunteers helped nonprofits meet critical needs as they responded to multiple crises. Congratulations to the CatchaFire and Cafritz Foundation teams!

Action & Advocacy

WRAG Member the United Philanthropy Forum Releases Public Policy Principles for 117th Congress
 

These newly-published principles act as guidance for federal foundation advocacy. The focus areas are:

  • Champion Racial Equity & Justice
  • Support Fair Tax Policy & Regulation
  • Enhance Charitable Giving
  • Defend & Strengthen Democracy
  • Promote Civic Engagement
  • Boost Sector Inclusion in Relief Legislation

These public policy principles will help the Forum address racial inequities, advocate on behalf of the sector, and identify practical public policy solutions that catalyze a just and equitable society where all can participate and prosper.

If you have questions about the Forum’s public policy work, please contact Matthew L. Evans, Director of Public Policy, at 202.759.6920 or matthew@unitedphilforum.org

 

New Reports

Metro Washington Homeless Population Count Lowest in 20 Years

According to a new report from #WRAGMember the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), there are 8,309 people experiencing homelessness in the region. This is the smallest number of people recorded since the region began coordinating an annual enumeration 20 years ago. 

The report, Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington, revealed 1,454 fewer homeless individuals in 2021 than the year prior. This is a significant drop from the decrease reported between 2019 and 2020 (just 31 fewer individuals), and a continuation of the five-year downward trend in homelessness. 
 

Indigenous Community Leadership in Response to COVID-19

Native Americans in Philanthropy has released a report on funding to Native American communities during the pandemic. The report reviews important lessons from the ongoing crisis in Indigenous communities and calls on philanthropy to invest in Indigenous-led organizations and initiatives. Philanthropy is also encouraged to maximize general operating support, diversify vehicles for investment, identify regions and communities that face serious funding disparities, invest in Indigenous community strengths and leadership—not their deficits, and invest in tribal policy advocacy and tribal leadership. For more context, you can view a short video exploring key findings from the report. 

Other Upcoming Events

The Purpose, Culture, and Values of Trust-Based Philanthropy
Hosted by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

June 8, 2021 | Virtual Event
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Trust-based philanthropy is much more than unrestricted grants and streamlined paperwork. At its core, this approach is fundamentally about recognizing and addressing power imbalances in service of a healthier, more equitable, and more impactful nonprofit sector. This requires a commitment to relationships based on transparency and mutual learning -- both internally within our organizations and externally with our grantee partners. For many funders, this culture-building is the work of trust-based philanthropy.

This session will explore why trust-based philanthropy is trending, the fundamental values that undergird this approach, and the roles of staff and board in cultivating the culture of trust that is required in order to make this work successful. Participants will also preview the six grantmaking principles of trust-based philanthropy and how they go hand in hand with reimagining roles as learning partners rather than compliance officers.

Impact Racial Equity Forum
Hosted by WRAG Member ACT for Alexandria

June 9-10, 2021 | Virtual Event
 

This event will highlight the history of race and racism in Alexandria, increasing mobility from poverty, operationalizing DEI, and narrative change for racial equity. There will be opportunities for reflection and discussion, and these conversations will help shape ACT’s capacity-building work and grantmaking moving forward. 

Following the Forum, there will be an opportunity to participate in the Alexandria Social Justice 30-Day Challenge, led by the City of Alexandria’s Race & Social Equity Office. Participants will learn about Alexandria’s important African American history and ways to bring equity to the city. This challenge is comprised of learning from podcasts, videos, articles, and more.  

 

Grantmakers in Health Annual Conference

June 8-11, 2021 | Virtual Event

Registration is now open for the 2021 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy, Building a Just and Equitable Future. This year’s conference invites participants to help reimagine how efforts to improve health outcomes are designed and implemented. In sessions related to philanthropy’s evolution and leadership, the new Administration’s priorities, climate change, mental health, public health, rural health, and the design of an equitable COVID-19 recovery, compelling speakers will present cutting-edge ideas designed to inspire philanthropic action and inform foundation funding. 

Listen4Good Info Sessions

For Funders
Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 12:00 p.m
Friday, June 18, 2021, 3:00 p.m.

For Nonprofits
Wednesday, June 9, 2021, 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 8, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
 

Fund for Shared Insight invites funders and nonprofits to Listen4Good, its signature feedback capacity-building program. Listen4Good provides direct-service organizations (and their funders) with the resources, coaching, and know-how to listen and respond to client feedback. Since 2016, hundreds of organizations have used Listen4Good’s proven five-step survey methodology to listen and respond to the opinions and preferences of more than 150,000 nonprofit clients across the country.
 
Organizations become more client-centric in the process, more impactful, and also more inclusive, fostering shared partnerships with those they serve. Sign up here for an informational webinar about how to sponsor organizations to participate in Listen4Good’s 2021 offerings,  Listen4Good Online+ and Listen4Good Premium. The deadline for nonprofits to register for participation is July 15.

Equity in IBD Patient Symposium
Hosted by Color of Crohn's & Chronic Illness (CCCI)

September 18, 2021 | Virtual Event
 

 

CCCI will host the #EquityInIBD Hybrid Patient Symposium focused on the Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) Patient community on Sept 18th. This is the first patient symposium of its kind. This event will extend opportunities that will increase education, awareness, and disease management in our community. ​

If your answer is YES to any of these questions:

  • Are you interested in decreasing disparities? 

  • Are you interested in engaging with REAL patients? 

  • Are you interested in learning more about IBD and the presentations in black and diverse patient populations?

  • Are you a patient who is looking for more answers and resources?

  •  Are you a care partner who is in need of support with navigating healthcare within IBD?

  • Are you concerned about clinical trials and research?

  • Are you a clinician working in equity?

  • Are you looking to network with other patient leaders, advocacy organizations, and industry leaders?

This is event is for you!

News type: 
Member News