Explore Upswell
Public investments transcend what philanthropy generates in a lifetime. Our federal government spends trillions of dollars on everything from improving the conditions of roads and subsidizing food for poor families to providing healthcare to the elderly and education for our children. But, over the past 60 years, our government has shifted from investing in the public to helping a limited number of people and corporations amass great wealth and power. This has come at a perilous cost: too many people lack housing, clean water, robust educational options, and good jobs, all things we know keep communities — especially low-income communities …
A Tale of Three Cities: Voices, Experiences, and Lessons Learned from Bridge Building in Chicago, Dallas, and Pittsburgh
Workshop
A diverse group of 40 changemakers from Chicago, Dallas, and Pittsburgh came together through Independent Sector’s Bridging Fellows program, supported by IS member Walmart, to strengthen and advance their collective leadership capacities, deepen and expand their relationships and networks, and amplify and embody bridge building as understood, experienced, and practiced in the real world. Fellows engaged in virtual convenings for in-depth learning and engagement on key bridging components and conditions, best practices, and to connect with each other across sectors, institutions, and geographical boundaries. They also participated in three in-person learning exchanges in the three cities for on-site learning, to …
Driving Possibilities: The Importance of Partnerships
Spotlight
In April 2022, Toyota announced a $110 million career readiness and community engagement initiative, Driving Possibilities. The initiative focuses on preparing youth for the careers of tomorrow, while addressing root causes that impact learning, such as food insecurity and mobility. The goals of Driving Possibilities are to increase excitement and readiness for STEM careers, coordinate community-based services to fuel innovative solutions, decrease barriers to success, and engage businesses in mentoring, training, and career readiness efforts. The vision for Driving Possibilities started right here in Dallas in a partnership among the West Dallas Community, Dallas Independent School District (ISD), Southern Methodist …
Burnout in the workplace is at an all time high, with one in four employees experiencing severe burnout. The last few years of COVID have exacerbated this in our sector, especially among fundraisers, because so many nonprofits were on the frontlines caring for their communities without any breaks, and the philanthropic sector’s response was short-lived. In this Spark Talk, author Radha Friedman will share from her new book, Fundraising Without Burnout, what is causing this burnout, what we are getting wrong about it, and what we can do as individuals, organizations, and as a sector. Following the session, Radha will …
Data shows that 95% of people who are arrested and incarcerated will return to their communities, yet we as employers and as a society still allow consequences like unemployment to follow them throughout their lives. Returning citizens deserve the opportunity to move on from their mistakes and rebuild their lives, and we can do this through fair chance hiring. In this session, Ken Oliver will share his story of being incarcerated for over 20 years and how and why he dedicated his life to servant leadership after his early release from prison. He’ll explain how, when implemented properly, fair chance …
Think Globally, Act Locally: How International Collaboration Can Help Change Perspectives and Address Community Issues
Spotlight
Ready to join a dynamic global network of community leaders? Revitalize your role as a community leader and become a driving force in shaping the future of decision makers, thought leaders, and community activists worldwide through the Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) and Community Solutions Programs (CSP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by IREX. This is your opportunity to collaborate with diverse and multidisciplinary civil society leaders through a global ecosystem working on community dialogue, open government, women and gender issues, youth empowerment, resilience, and sustainable development. By serving as a host, U.S. organizations offer emerging or …
Breaking Down Barriers: Reimagining Equitable Access to Data, Tools, and Funding
Workshop
Roughly 10% of the nation’s nonprofits are led by individuals from Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, but they only receive about 4% of grant dollars annually. There are many reasons for this, but it is no coincidence that over 90% of foundation CEOs are white, while organizations led by individuals of color face barriers to funding that their white-led counterparts simply do not, resulting in significantly less funding. Many in our sector have explicitly stated intentions to address equity gaps in philanthropy. It’s time to convert those intentions to concrete action. Candid will be joined by two partners …
Leave No Power on the Table: Connecting Civic Engagement to Mission
Workshop
Policy and Advocacy
Elections have a direct impact on fundamental issues related to quality of life and nonprofits’ ability to pursue our charitable missions. But, according to new research commissioned by Independent Sector, 56% of nonprofits report that policy engagement does not apply to their mission and only 13% engage in nonpartisan voter engagement services. The study found that mission alignment is the single most powerful indicator of whether a nonprofit will step forward and advocate. All of our findings point toward opportunities for even greater impact by nonprofits, particularly in areas such as advocacy and policy reform to address systemic issues and …
Philanthropy’s Role in Reparations: Building a Culture of Repair
Workshop
The issue of reparations has recently gained considerable momentum. However, many define reparations narrowly — as cash payments, relegated to the public sector, and only benefitting Black people. Liberation Ventures and The Bridgespan Group think differently. Reparations for slavery and its legacy are not just about money or policy; reparations are comprehensive repair and require shifting narratives and culture. Building a culture of repair across sectors benefits not just Black people, but catalyzes a true multiracial democracy — for all of us. Philanthropy has a critical role to play in advancing this work. Foundations can try to repair their own …