We had a wonderful time at today's Maryland Philanthropy Network’s Annual Member Gathering of funders from across the state. It's an opportunity for MPN members to connect, rejuvenate, and celebrate as a philanthropic community and we are proud MPN members, along with fellow Howard County funders The Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland and the Reis Foundation. 

We came together to hear:
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• An update from Danista E. Hunte, MPN President & CEO, on the current state of our Network
• A panel on leading with courage with philanthropic leaders from member organizations moderated by Sheryl Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Pluck Consulting
• A keynote address by Phil Buchanan, President of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, on courageous philanthropy
• And we concluded with a networking luncheon designed that fostered connections and collaboration.

This year, our gathering was focused on the theme of "Courageous Philanthropy: Powering Possibility."

The phrase "courageous philanthropy" emphasizes the boldness needed to tackle urgent social issues while remaining aligned with a funder's values. The phrase "powering possibility" emphasizes the potential that arises when resources, ideas, and passions are mobilized for a greater cause. MPN hosted Phil Buchanan, President of the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), as this year’s keynote speaker. Phil shared insights from CEP research about the state of the sector and funder behavior in light of calls for courageous grantmaking.  

In an era of increasing federal scrutiny and uncertain contexts, leaders in philanthropy must act with courage and disrupt the status quo. This special conversation moderated by Sheryl Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Pluck Consulting, features leaders of a diverse set of MPN member organizations to illuminate how those in our network are navigating complexity, acting courageously, and advancing their missions.

Panelists:

• Melissa Curtin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation of Howard County
• David Daniels, Chief Executive Officer, Bainum Family Foundation
• Joshua L. Michael, Ph.D., Executive Director, Sherman Family Foundation

Recognizing that courage takes many forms, we honored and celebrated the variety of ways funders can and do act courageously in alignment with their values and mission and we highlighted a variety of ways those in our network are navigating complexity, acting courageously, and advancing their missions. We all left with deeper connections, an inspired spirit, and practical insights for impactful philanthropy in today’s changing landscape.

WGC was proud to Sponsor the event, and to serve on the Planning Committee, along with our Howard County partners:
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• Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Women's Giving Circle of Howard County
• Dan Flynn, Community Foundation of Howard County
• Kenitra Kengne Fokwa, Horizon Foundation
• Martina Martin, United Way of Central Maryland

This past year the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and The Horizon Foundation partnered to compile a report examining Black women's experiences, challenges, and contributions in nonprofit leadership roles in Howard County. “Elevating to Evolve: Stories of Wisdom, Excellence and a Call for Change from Black Women Nonprofit Leaders in Howard County” sheds light on the unique journeys of these leaders and calls for actionable steps toward greater equity and inclusion.

The goal of the report is to elevate stories and experiences, and to share perspectives on how individuals, boards, and funders can better support Black women leaders. 

We hosted two town halls with local funders, nonprofits, and board members to discuss the report findings and the roadmap within for organizations to address disparities and support transformative leadership, because we know that ensuring that nonprofit leadership reflects the diversity of the communities they serve is essential for equitable and effective outcomes. 
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As a result of these early conversations with funders and the community we identified several initial activities to support Black women in leadership roles in the sector, including this important Allyship Training for funders and our nonprofit partners at the Howard County Nonprofit Collaborative.

We welcomed Whitney Parnell, Founder & CEO of Service Never Sleeps. SNS is a nonprofit organization that serves as a resource for justice-minded individuals by providing them with the knowledge and tools to advance racial equity within their own spheres of influence. Whitney led us through a thoughtful and meaningful conversation on allyship and our shared humanity - where we agreed that as part of this important work, we are collectively focused on "a world where we are all embraced for who we are, and able to thrive to reach our highest potential."

The WGC and Horizon Foundation will continue to highlight the findings of the report and bring the community together to work toward change - we hope you will continue to join with us.​