I recently read Vu’s latest blog post (a-moratorium-on-funder-panels-at-conferences) and it resonated with our team.
We get asked a lot to present and serve on funder panels at conferences, workshops, etc. We only say yes 20% of the time (maybe even less these days). Much of what Vu talks about is why we decline (please do follow and support them as they offer a great view of philanthropy, or maybe an accurate view would be a better way to describe it.)
There are other reasons beyond those Vu outlines. We absolutely do not have a one-size-fits-all grant program. Sitting on a panel and describing it would do no good as our grants change every year (sometimes every quarter).
More importantly, our open grant funding is minuscule compared to our allocations. We gave out $9.3 million in grants in 2025. Less than $200,000 was through an open grant process. Meaning, most of our funding comes from our Donor Advised Funds. Those are not grant based so talking about grants really isn’t’ helpful.
(To learn more about our impact, grant giving, etc., check out Impact at a Glance on our website.)
So, what is helpful? Talking to us – one-on-one, sharing a one-pager with us on what you are doing, sending us emails about something new, important or impactful that is happening within or to your organization (not the newsletter listserv).
We, all of us here, are happy to talk with you. What is of underlying importance with this statement, however, is that you need to be proactive. You will need to make the call, send the email, share the news. This puts the agency on you to let us know what is happening within your organization – it is a shift in power dynamics, as well. You decide what we should hear, learn and know.
You are our panel of one. We look forward to building a true relationship with you.