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2023-2024 Virtual Member-Wide Programming

Below are recordings of NCNG's 2023-2024 Funder Calls.

Navigating the Complexities of Corporate Reporting with an Equity Lens

July 25, 2023

The rise of ESG and the SEC's impending climate disclosure requirements has put increasing pressure from the investment community on companies to meet specific reporting requirements. In addition, employees, communities and customers are demanding that companies address their concerns on a wide range of social and environmental issues. The growing number of reporting standards and frameworks can make it difficult for CSR and Philanthropy professionals to determine the best approach to reporting on their company's efforts. This session provided concrete ideas and steps on how to create an effective impact report that balances competing demands from a range of stakeholders. This webinar was provided in partnership with our friends at Philanthropy New York.

Watch “Navigating the Complexities of Corporate Reporting with an Equity Lens.”

Investing in Change: Foundation Support for Lobbying and Other Advocacy

July 27, 2023

Private and public foundations can play an important role in advocacy by engaging in advocacy
themselves and funding their grantees to advocate on their issues. This workshop with Bolder Advocacy, provides a clear understanding of the kinds of advocacy activities you can safely engage in and best practices for grantmaking to give your grantees the most flexibility under the law for their advocacy efforts. This webinar was provided in partnership with our friends at Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania.

Watch “Investing in Change: Foundation Support for Lobbying and Other Advocacy” on Vimeo.

Nonprofit Finance Basics

September 21, 2023

Learn how grantmakers can best use the Form 990 to learn about potential grantees. Natasha Davis, President & CEO of the WPS Strategy Group, discussed what the 990 tells you and, more importantly, what it does not tell you.

Watch “Nonprofit Finance Basics” on Vimeo. PW: ncng

Community Centric Fundraising

October 4, 2023

Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) is a movement aspiring to transform fundraising and philanthropy so that they are co-grounded in racial and economic justice. CCF invites fundraisers and funders to examine the problematic philosophies and practices we've been upholding. Join us to discuss the 10 principles of CCF, what they ask of funders, and how they are impacting the sector. Participants will learn about colleagues implementing some of the principles and will discuss the range of ways funders can be supportive of these principles as a way to demonstrate anti-racist values.
​Speakers included Dani Faulkner, Chief Development Officer, Baltimore Corps and a Community Centric Fundraising Global Council Member and Dannielle Sturgeon, Director of Development, Baltimore Corps. This webinar was provided in partnership with our friends at the Maryland Philanthropy Network.

Watch “The Principles of Community Centric Fundraising” on Vimeo.

Briefing: Supporting NC LGBTQ+ Communities

October 12, 2023

Presenters from Funders for LGBTQ+ Issues, Equality NC, and the Campaign for Southern
Equality helped build awareness of pressing issues for LGBTQ+ communities including: 

  • A summary of the dire circumstances LGBTQ+ Americans now face, including more than 500 bills in the US targeting LGBTQ+ people. 
  • How nonprofit organizations, organizers, neighborhoods, and families across North Carolina are working to show up and support LGBTQ+ communities.
  • How this new policy landscape is causing great harm — disrupting or blocking access to medically necessary healthcare, limiting free speech and expression, weakening anti- discrimination laws on the books, preventing trans students from participating in school activities like sports, censoring in-school discussions of LGBTQ people and issues, and more.
  • Analysis on the disparity of philanthropic funds that currently go towards LGBTQ+ supporting programs and organizations, and why strategic investment in the South is so important. 
  • Ways NC grantmakers can join together to increase funding and resource LGBTQ+ organizations at a critical time.

Thank you to Laughing Gull Foundation for partnering with NCNG on this webinar. To view

additional resources related to this recording, view this “NCNG LGBTQ+ Funder Briefing Notes
and Resources” Google Document.

Watch the “Supporting NC LGBTQ+ Communities Briefing” on Vimeo. PW: ncng

FAFSA Update

October 18, 2023

The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and
systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024–25 award year. These
changes, in addition to the impact of the SCOTUS affirmative action ruling, make this
upcoming admissions and scholarship cycle singularly unique and uncertain. We were
joined by Sarita Broadway, Senior Regional Manager of the College Foundation of North
Carolina, who shared about the key impacts of these changes and to connect with
colleagues across the state. Thank you to the Triangle Community Foundation for
facilitating this webinar.

Watch the “FAFSA Update” on Zoom. PW: y@67m5T3

Shifting to Build More Equitable Practices - From Grantmaking to Evaluation to Vendor Relationships

November 1, 2023

In what ways has your work changed in the last three years in service to the true meaning of
philanthropy - a love of humankind? In what ways have you shifted to build within your sphere of
influence? And what are you collectively building to support new ways of working, doing, and being?
This webinar, presented by Carol Astle, Director of Operations at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund,
Diane Oyler, Executive Vice President of Health Foundation for Western and Central New York,
Bahia Ramos, Vice President of Arts at the Wallace Foundation was moderated by George
Suttles, Executive Director of the Commonfund Institute and covered:

  • New ways to reimagine a philanthropic ecosystem characterized by trust, relationship, and accountability with the community you serve
  • Tensions and barriers that arise as a part of the journey in shifting philanthropic practice 
  • Case studies from and within areas of your organization that may feel especially entrenched in traditional ways, e.g., evaluation, research and programming, vendor relationships, and investments
  • Ways in which you can use your assets to work through your foundation's equity- centered change management
  • Ways in which power can be recognized, shared, and built with those who are most harmed by racialized policies and practices

This event was provided in partnership with our friends at Philanthropy New York.

Watch “Shifting to Build More Equitable Practices - From Grantmaking to Evaluation to Vendor Relationships”.

Nonprofit Policy Update 

December 7, 2023

There's been a lot going on this year in Raleigh and Washington D.C. that affects the work of nonprofits, foundations, and the communities they serve. Many of the policy changes that have happened at the federal and state levels this year – and several that are still under consideration the remainder of the year and in 2024 – deeply affect nonprofits and their clients. Join us for an update from the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits to hear the latest on major policy issues like Medicaid expansion and outreach, investment in public education, the state and federal budgets, and state tax policy decisions. You will also learn about lower profile laws and regulations that could have a major impact on nonprofits and foundations like changes to charitable solicitation laws, an increased salary threshold for overtime pay for nonprofit/foundation employees, limitations on certain training programs on topics of race, and proposed federal grants rules.

Watch Nonprofit Policy Update with David Heinen PW ncng

Code the Dream: Increasing Equitable Access to Public Benefits

March 13, 2024

Code the Dream, supported by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, is developing a North Carolina benefits screener to address the underutilization of over $80 billion in national assistance. Targeting rural and underserved communities, the mobile-friendly platform aims to streamline access to programs like Medicaid and food assistance, with hopes of expanding to housing and childcare. The initiative, set for public release in February 2025, seeks additional support to enhance enrollment in various assistance programs and invites funders focused on economic mobility, health, housing, justice, or technology to join the cause. 

Every year more than $80 billion in food, health care, and other assistance goes untapped nationally. This problem is particularly acute in North Carolina where rural, Black, Latinx and immigrant communities are disproportionately under-enrolled. Benefits screeners have been gaining traction as an effective, efficient way to help connect people to public benefits that can help them thrive. The screeners work by easing some of the time, computer literacy and language barriers that can create roadblocks for residents seeking to access public benefits. They also allow families experiencing poverty to enter their information once and quickly identify eligibility across multiple programs.  

Watch the information session with Code the Dream PW ncng 

Environmental Policy Update

April 18, 2024 

Grady O’Brien from the N.C. Conservation Network joined us for an update about what to expect from local, state and federal policy decisions we're expecting Spring and Summer 2024.

Watch the 2024 Environmental Policy Update PW ncng  

Enhancing Access to Healthy Food Through Policy and Systems Change: Spotlight on School Meals for All 

June 13, 2024
The School Meals for All NC Coalition (SMFANC) works to ensure that all North Carolina children have access to breakfast and lunch at their schools. This session will illuminate SMFANC's strategies, progress, and the challenges they face in enhancing food accessibility.

The School Meals for All NC Coalition (SMFANC) works to ensure that all North Carolina children have access to breakfast and lunch at their schools. This session will illuminate SMFANC's strategies, progress, and the challenges they face in enhancing food accessibility.

Speakers: 

  • Morgan Wittman Gramann, JD, Executive Director, NC Alliance for Health 
  • Kayla Hollard, Food and Nutrition Program Manager, The Center for Black Health and Equity 
  • Chester Williams, A Better Chance, A Better Community
  • Jessica Soldavini, Carolina Hunger Initiative
  • Merry Davis, Director, Healthy Food, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC Foundation 

Whether you work in food, education, health, rural communities, or are engaged in policy and systems change, this session will offer valuable insights.

Watch Enhancing Access to Healthy Food Through Policy and Systems Change: Spotlight on School Meals for All.