By Clare O'Brien, Philanos Co-Chair

Philanos is leveraging our position as a national network to bring greater attention and resources to underserved communities.

Supported by a grant from the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund, Philanos has prioritized national BIPOC populations, and a geographic focus on the 16 states in the South Central and Mountain West regions which receive one-third the philanthropic dollars per capita as the coasts.

To develop a deeper, firsthand understanding of these communities, the Board engaged in multiple convenings and educational experiences in Mississippi and Alabama over the course of several days:

• Philanos was excited to collaborate with the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Philanthropy Together, Community Investment Network and Grapevine to support the emerging collective giving movement in Mississippi. This coalition hosted a CircleUp regional gathering which brought together community foundations, funders, nonprofits and giving circle advocates for a day of shared learning, relationship building and collaboration.

• Philanos was an active sponsor and participant in CIN’s Conference in Birmingham, Alabama on 10/3-10/4, celebrating 20 years of BIPOC-led giving. Seven Board members attended the inaugural Alabama Nonprofit Film Festival which spotlighted the transformative impact of ten innovative nonprofits via short films. The following day, three Philanos Board members led an interactive panel discussion entitled “Building Stronger and More Diverse Partnerships in Collective Giving”. This generated lively dialogue and commitments to action with and among the attendees, which included leaders in philanthropy, nonprofits and collective giving.

• Finally, the entire Philanos Board journeyed to Montgomery, Alabama on 10/4-10/6 for an immersive and riveting exploration of our nation’s past. Through visits to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, they learned how historical events in the South continue to impact individuals, communities, economic conditions and criminal justice systems today. Following these powerful and moving experiences, the Board established links between historical events and our current philanthropic goals in a reflection and Allyship training session led by Whitney Parnell. The group’s collective insights informed and sharpened the focus of the new strategic plan.

“The work we are doing requires us to be attuned to place-based philanthropy" said Maggie Glasgow, Immediate Past Co-Chair. "Since we are moving to create more circles and greater giving in underfunded regions such as the Deep South, it is imperative our board have a deeper understanding of the people who live here and their shared history. It was an incredible opportunity to meet with our collaborators, other funders and nonprofits in the collective giving space, as well as travel through civil rights sites across Mississippi and Alabama. The board retreat in Montgomery was a highlight for me, and a goal we have long held to bring our board to the Deep South.” 

This trip provided an unprecedented opportunity for the Philanos Board to learn about the history and current conditions in the South, and how we can help elevate community-centric giving in the region. We look forward to strengthening relationships with our Southern nonprofit and philanthropic partners, and are inspired by their passion, resilience and generosity.