Spaces to connect, learn, and collaborate.

Philanthropic giving often spikes after high-profile disasters. Yet, crises that layer conflict, political instability and large-scale humanitarian needs often pose barriers that deter engagement. New research findings from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Accountable Now highlight that while funders care deeply about humanitarian crises, they seek clear, proximate and safe pathways for action that can be harder … Continue reading Beyond the headlines: What mobilizes philanthropy to act in complex crises 

Impact investing is a powerful but underutilized tool for funders to align investments with social impact and environmental goals, amplify their impact, and potentially create a sustainable source of funding for future initiatives. Curious to learn more? During the fourth and final session of our Fundamentals Academy, participants will get a 101-level overview to build … Continue reading Fundamentals Academy Session 4: Impact Investing

This meeting of the Binational Migration Funders, a Catalyst Funder Collaborative, will focus on debriefing the May 7th Funder Briefing led by the San Diego Regional Solidarity Collective, working to support and protect San Diego’s immigrant and refugee communities. If you would like to attend the May 7th funder briefing, please contact Megan Thomas for … Continue reading Binational Migration Funders: Regional Strategy Debrief

Join funders from across the state for a day-long, in-person working meeting that will formally launch California's 2030 Census Statewide Funders Initiative. This gathering will be the kickoff of the statewide table that Philanthropy California will coordinate in the years ahead, to help shape a strong, collaborative, and strategic philanthropic approach to the 2030 Census. … Continue reading 2030 Census Statewide Funder Table

At a pivotal moment marked by the 2026 gubernatorial transition and broader national uncertainty, this briefing will provide funders with a strategic view into how the Ad Hoc Latino Leaders Group is shaping California’s policy and governance landscape. The session will highlight how philanthropy can play a catalytic role in moving from policy vision to … Continue reading From Moment to Movement: Responding to Crisis, Shaping Opportunity

Presented By Affordable housing is essential for preventing and understanding homelessness, and yet it is often misunderstood. It can often be complex, publicly funded, politically sensitive, and slow-moving, with funding gaps that can make meaningful engagement feel out of reach. But, without enough housing, other efforts to address homelessness cannot succeed. Housing is not just … Continue reading Housing and Homelessness: Where Philanthropy Can Make the Difference

The Senior Peer Cohort will meet eight times (four full day in-person sessions and four three-hour virtual sessions) from June to November 2026. Participants must commit to attending the following four in-person sessions from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm: Session 1: Wednesday, June 17th Session 3: Wednesday, July 29th Session 5: Wednesday, September 9th Session … Continue reading 2026 evolve Senior Peer Cohort

Voting rights are under attack across the country. From the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to federal voter suppression bills like the SAVE Act, national efforts to prevent marginalized communities from having a voice in the future of this country are gaining steam. In … Continue reading Voter Suppression on the Ballot: Fighting Voter ID in California

Join Catalyst’s 2nd Quarter Corporate Members Community of Practice, a space for corporate members to learn together, share best practices, and build meaningful connections with CSR professionals across our region. The session will feature peer-driven spotlight discussions focused on how corporate philanthropy teams are structured within their companies, along with how they approach metrics and … Continue reading Corporate Members Community of Practice

Imperial County is rich with opportunities for investment, collaboration, and lasting impact, but navigating the region’s funding landscape can be complex. The Imperial Valley Funder Collaborative (IVFC) is a Catalyst collaborative of funders dedicated to growing funding interest and capacity specifically for the rural communities of Imperial County. If you are a funder currently investing … Continue reading Imperial Valley Funder Collaborative

Join us for Catalyst’s Summer Member Social at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego to spend a night with the people shaping philanthropy in our region. We’ll have drinks, light bites, and time to catch up outside the usual meetings and inboxes. We will also be celebrating the 2026 graduates of the Catalyst’s Fundamentals … Continue reading Summer Member Social

Join Catalyst’s next gathering of our Family Funders Community of Practice, a funder-only space designed for learning, knowledge exchange, and connection among family philanthropy peers and staff. This quarter’s conversation will focus on impact investing and the role it can play in advancing philanthropic goals and impact beyond traditional grantmaking. Building on data identified in … Continue reading Family Foundations Community of Practice