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Conference
2023 Catalyst Annual Conference: Funding our Future
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Registration is now closed. We are at full capacity and cannot accommodate any more attendees at this time. Please contact Melissa Leon with any questions.
At our annual conference this year, get ready to take a deep dive into the pivotal role philanthropy plays in a more equitable distribution of wealth. How is it possible that the richest nation in the world also has more poverty than any other democratic country? We will examine the distribution of wealth and power and consider the notions of democracy and justice in the context of what we broadly call “equity.” We will explore the important role you play as a funder and discover new ways to leverage the power of philanthropy.
Dolores Huerta, Founder and President of The Dolores Huerta Foundation, will open the day as our keynote speaker. Dolores is a living legend whose lifelong commitment to social justice, labor rights, and equality has left an indelible mark on the world. She will share her compelling journey, passion, and wisdom. Her story of grassroots organizing, advocacy, and unyielding determination serves as an incredible source of inspiration for us all as we come together to transform wealth, power, and community. Navigate to our keynote speaker tab to learn more about Dolores and The Dolores Huerta Foundation.
Building from last year’s conference, Here & Now, this year isn’t just about theoretical discussions—it’s about practical action. With each session, you’ll gain invaluable insights and skills to propel your philanthropy forward. Whether it’s understanding trust-based grantmaking, fostering community-centered decision-making, building an inclusive economy, or exploring the profound meaning of reparative funding practices and racial justice, we’ve curated a lineup of engaging breakout sessions led by experts at the forefront of change.
Join us as we examine the future of philanthropy together, empowering you to make a tangible difference in your family, organization, community, and beyond. Register now to secure your spot at “Funding Our Future: Examining Wealth, Power, and Community.”
Stay tuned for more speakers to be announced soon.
8:00am: Registration & breakfast
9:00am: Welcome & Keynote
10:30am: Morning plenary
- A Culture of Repair: Building Transformative Funding Practices
12:30pm: Lunch
- Curated vendor market
- Live music
- Connection with peers
2:00pm: Afternoon breakout sessions
- Empowered Communities: Cultivating Inclusive Economic Structures
- Empowered Funders: Guiding Your Journey Towards Equitable Grantmaking
3:45pm: Closing remarks
4:15pm: Reception at the conference center museum
MORNING PLENARY
A Culture of Repair: Building Transformative Funding Practices
Funding Our Future highlights the crucial need for a “culture of repair” in philanthropy. Together, we will focus on how to move with urgency, especially in support of Black and Indigenous communities. Our speakers will guide you through the concepts of reparations and repair, and illuminate the labor of Black and Indigenous communities to redress historical injustices and, in the process, heal, repair and transform themselves and the world around them.
By exploring real-world case studies, we will see how common funding practices may inadvertently perpetuate harm and inequality–and the path towards a new relationship with one another and with wealth. Our speakers will help participants critically examine their own grantmaking and offer insights on how to align funding practices with the principles of justice, equity, and a celebration of our shared humanity.
afternoon sessions
Empowered Communities: Cultivating Inclusive Economic Structures
This session will spotlight the importance of championing economic frameworks that prioritize community ownership and community governance. When funders relinquish decision-making power over financial resources, they help unlock the power of self-determination within communities.
Central to this discussion is the concept of “solidarity economics.” Through case studies and expert insights, we will spotlight how to support the power-building aspects required for this work. Our speakers will navigate how to build partnerships with community based organizations that transcend traditional philanthropic approaches and how collaboration can forge resilient economic structures that are rooted in mutual support and justice.
Prepare to engage with thought leaders, activists, and philanthropic visionaries who are reshaping the landscape of giving. At the end of the session, you will walk away with an understanding of how inclusive economies can drive social transformation, strengthen community bonds, and empower everyone involved.
Empowered Funders: Guiding Your Journey Towards Equitable Grantmaking
Funders are increasingly leaving behind outdated practices in favor of community-centered approaches like trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking. But making these changes can be daunting and the journey can take many forms.
This engaging session will help funders navigate this spectrum of learning and reflect on where you have been, where you are today, and where you want to be. You will hear from funders in different phases of their equitable grantmaking journey and leave with concrete ideas and a group of peers ready to support you. This session will be funder-focused.
Click here for full speaker biographies.
Welcome
Consuelo Martinez
Councilmember – District 1, City of Escondido
A Culture of Repair: Building Transformative Funding Practices
Edward Jones
VP of Programs & Philanthropic Advising Services, ABFE
Ellen Waddell
CEO, Avila Fund
Stan Rodriguez
President, Kumeyaay Community College
Empowered Communities: Cultivating Inclusive Economic Structures
Amy Corton and Carl Eibl
Private Donors
Karinna Gonzales
Climate Justice Policy Manager, Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation
Vanessa Carter Fahnestock
Project Manager, USC Equity Research Institute
Empowered Funders: Guiding Your Journey Towards Equitable Grantmaking
Amy Abrams
Chief Community Health Officer, Grossmont Healthcare District
Dimple Abichandani
Fellow, National Center for Family Philanthropy
Stephen Minix
Sr. Director of Community Strategy, UpMetrics
Funding Our Future will look at the transformative power wealth can have in our social change ecosystem, and how we can, and should, work with community leadership to rethink our funding practices and achieve lasting change.
Dolores Huerta is a living legend whose lifelong commitment to social justice, labor rights, and equality has left an indelible mark on the world. As a co-founder of the United Farm Workers alongside Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong, Dolores has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of farmworkers, immigrants, and marginalized communities. Her tireless efforts have led to groundbreaking changes in workers’ rights, education, and civil rights. These efforts happen without, and often in spite of, the traditional models of funding and power. Philanthropy has an important role to play in shifting these dynamics to enable more dignified work and sustainable movements.
Dolores is now the president and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which works to connect community-based organizing to state and national movements, advocate for education reform, bring about infrastructure improvements in low-income communities, advocate for equality for the LGBTQIA+ community, and create strong leadership development.
Join us to hear Dolores Huerta share her compelling journey, passion, and wisdom. Her story of grassroots organizing, advocacy, and unyielding determination serves as an incredible source of inspiration for us all as we come together to transform wealth, power, and community.
Headliner
Champion
Trendsetter
Contributor
Sustainer
Capdevilla Gillespie Foundation
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