2015 Annual Report

In 2015, Philanthropy Northwest’s board, staff and stakeholders engaged in the development of our new strategy framework, affirming our vision and clarifying our role as your thought and action partner for Northwest communities with vibrant, healthy futures that honor our past, our people and our cultures. This framework is grounded in our organization’s aspirations and values, reflected in our work together throughout the year.

2015 Highlights

• Valuable for All Types of Philanthropy: Our learning network grew to 182 foundations and corporate giving programs, with 845 people attending at least one of our programs, briefings, trainings and workshops.
• Relevant and In Demand: The Giving Practice, our national consulting team, worked with 54 funders and collaboratives, creating and sharing tools and resources to support the field, including a new strategy guide for community foundations.
• Self-Sustaining and Financially Viable: We were extremely honored to receive a three-year, $3 million grant from Satterberg Foundation to support new program design and ways of learning and sharing knowledge.
• Convening Conversations: Through our Local Matters series, we explored distinctive and innovative approaches to place-based philanthropy in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Washington.
• Supporting Shared Learning and Action: We launched our Momentum Fellowship, with significant support from Meyer Memorial Trust and Marguerite Casey Foundation, recruiting and placing nine emerging philanthropy leaders of color at six foundations in Alaska, Oregon and Washington.
• Incubating and Activating Ideas: After seven productive years on our incubation platform, Mission Investors Exchange determined it was ready to pursue its own 501(c)(3) status as a national impact investing network. We deepened our relationship as fiscal sponsor of Community Democracy Workshop and welcomed Cascadia Foodshed Financing Project, a regional impact investing collaborative.
• Building Cross-Sector Networks: Public policy work remained an important component of advancing healthy, equitable and inclusive communities. We also strengthened our relationships with national philanthropy-serving organizations, state nonprofit associations and other partners.

We learn from you every day, as we offer you a place to connect, share and take action. As you’ll see in the charts and stories that follow, our financial status and community relationships are stronger than ever. In 2016, we’ll celebrate our 40th anniversary (wow!) at our annual conference in Missoula, Montana. Whether you’ve been part of Philanthropy Northwest for 40 years or four months, we are honored to have you in our network and grateful for the incredible work you are doing in our communities every day.

Sincerely,

Audrey Haberman
Interim CEO