Sometimes we get so caught up in our day-to-day work that we don’t always make time to get out into the field to learn and see for ourselves. Earlier this year, our CEO, Kiran Ahuja and I hit the road and ventured to a part of our region that is personally new to us. The sole purpose of our trip was to learn and connect with grantmakers on the ground in Wyoming.
Trends in Northwest Giving began as a project of Philanthropy Northwest in 2002 and has been published every two years as an aggregation and analysis of grantmaking trends that shape our region — Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. The Trends in Northwest Giving 2019 report focuses on the most recent data available, through fiscal year 2016, and includes a combination of information from our membership network, Form 990s and intermediaries.
Many foundations are taking steps to include rural constituencies in their work. We studied this work around the country in The Rural Philanthropy Analysis and developed five strategies uniquely important to grantmakers funding rural projects.
The Central Washington Conference for the Greater Good is a regional conference of leaders from Eastern Washington, particularly the Yakima Valley. It is a great destination conference for funders to learn more about the needs and interests of Central Washington and rural nonprofits.
In late October, Philanthropy Northwest hosted its National Rural Funders Gathering at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Emigrant, Montana. About 64 percent hailed from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming and Oregon, including eight Philanthropy Northwest members. Other participants traveled from across the country, even as far away as Arkansas, Minnesota and Vermont. The attendees included traditional funders, representatives from government, tribal nations, as well as CDFIs and other philanthropic practitioners.
Risk is a huge and relevant topic for investors. Rosalie asks, "do we take it too far?" This post is part of a multi-part blog series about innovative foundations and financial advisors working to make impact investments in the (mostly) Pacific Northwest region.
In Philanthropy Northwest's “Pacific Northwest Changemakers,” generously supported by the Satterberg Foundation, Mitchell Thomashow takes us on a tour of place-based, community-driven philanthropy, from Central Washington to Montana, from Coastal Alaska to Portland.
