EOF 2026 Funder Learning Series May 2026- October 2026. Blue map of United states with connected dots across states.

EOF is hosting monthly virtual calls for funders to share ideas, workshop pressing challenges, and identify opportunities to connect and align efforts around economic opportunity.

Overview

EOF members often comment that one of the best aspects of being a part of our network is the connection to other funders – both those that are working in direct alignment and those working in different areas. The purpose of the Learning Series is to provide an opportunity for funders to exchange ideas, share grantmaking practices, workshop pressing challenges, and align efforts around economic opportunity. Coupled to conversations from our in-person meetings, these monthly 50-minute virtual meetings provide a space for funders to connect to and learn from each other.

Audience

The Learning Series is for grantmakers who work for a qualifying philanthropy. This includes staff from:

  • Private, Independent, and Family Foundations
  • Corporate Foundations and Corporate Responsibility/Giving Programs
  • Community Foundations
  • Health Conversion Foundations
  • Public Charities whose primary activity is grantmaking
  • Operating Foundations whose primary activity is grantmaking
  • Venture Philanthropy
  • Donor Advised Funds
  • Funder Collaboratives or Networks
  • Pooled Funds where some joint decision-making by donors is offered
  • Public Funding Agencies
  • United Ways that serve the community as a grantmaker

If you are a consultant or advisor who is currently contracted by a qualifying philanthropy, you may qualify to participate as a representative of that institution – please contact Cema Siegel @ csiegel@eofnetwork.org to confirm.

The following do not qualify to participate:

  • Fundraising or development staff. Eligible participants must oversee or manage an organization’s giving programs.
  • Staff from institutions whose primary function is not philanthropic, including those that regrant funds.
  • Staff from grantmaking institutions that only make grants to their members or affiliates.

Format

In order to create connection, these gatherings will be held meeting-style in Zoom, with lots of opportunities for dialog and discussion.

To encourage candid and robust exchange, these sessions will not be recorded.

Each session will feature an EOF member to kick off the conversation. We may occasionally ask an outside speaker to join.

EOF 2026 Funder Learning Series Session 5: Increasing Philanthropic Investment in Rural Prosperity Through Policy & Systems Change

October 22, 2026 | 1:00-1:50 PM ET

Rural America plays a critical role in shaping our shared future, but has long been overlooked by philanthropic and policy investments.

Join us for our final 2026 Funder Learning Series session to learn more about philanthropic efforts to strengthen the systems, organizations, and networks needed to advance meaningful change for rural communities.

Guest Speakers:

  • Katrina Badger, Program Officer, Rural Economic and Community Development, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Katharine Ferguson, former chief of staff of USDA and Consultant, Strong Foundations for Rural Advancement
  • Paula Sammons, National Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Register

EOF 2026 Funder Learning Series Session 4: Accelerating the Transformation of Public Benefits Delivery in Colorado

September 28, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 2:50 PM ET

This session explored a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize benefit systems in Colorado and establish a national model for replication. Launched in January 2026, the Benefits Transformation Fund is a three-year initiative co-governed by philanthropic partners and state leadership, that will deploy $5–10M in Colorado to reimagine and rebuild the technology, infrastructure, and capacity that enable households to access critical public benefits with speed, dignity, and accuracy. Speakers shared what created the opportunity for systems-level reform, how partners are working together, and what this approach could offer other states seeking to strengthen their social safety nets.

Guest Speakers:

  • Erin Currier, Senior Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  • Elise Henson, Director of Strategy, Ventures, Gary Community Ventures
  • Tracey Patterson, Director, Colorado Benefits Transformation Fund

EOF 2026 Funder Learning Series Session 3: Improving Access to Public Benefits Through Human-Centered Design

August 12 @ 2:00 pm – 2:50 pm EDT

What happens when government services are designed around the people who need them most? Join us to hear from The Kresge Foundation on why they’re investing in human-centered design — and from grantee Civilla, a nonprofit design studio reimagining public institutions and developing scalable solutions that put people first. Discover how Civilla partnered with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to overhaul one of the nation’s longest and most complex benefits applications, and how they are supporting the state’s compliance with HR 1.

Guest Speakers:

  • Raquel Hatter, Ed.D, Managing Director Human Services, The Kresge Foundation
  • Julia Dale, President & CEO, Civilla
  • Gabriela Dorantes, Design Director, Civilla
  • Samuel Brennan, Design Director, Civilla

EOF Funder Learning Series #2: Investing in Emerging Strategies: Private Equity and Care

June 23, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM ET

The Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund supports movement building and policy advocacy for robust and universal care policies across early care and education, paid leave, aging and disability care, and improving the job of care workers. A few years ago, the CARE Fund’s grantees identified an emerging challenge that cut across child care and home care – the impact of the growing role of private equity on both the quality and availability of care and the quality of care jobs.

During this session, Executive Director Anna Wadia shared details on the CARE Fund’s journey deepening the field’s and philanthropy’s understanding of the impact of private equity on care, and the identification of policy guardrails to prevent harmful practices. She was joined by Nina Dastur of Community Change who shared recommendations from the recently released Children Before Profits State Playbook, produced in collaboration with the National Women’s Law Center, Open Markets Institute and the Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund.

Guest Speakers:

  • Anna Wadia, Executive Director, Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund
  • Nina Dastur, Director of State and Local Policy, Community Change

EOF Funder Learning Series #1: Building a New Model for Increasing Access to Public Benefits in North Carolina

May 6, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM ET

Public benefit programs that provide critical support—such as Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, housing assistance, and child care subsidies—are governed by complex eligibility rules, reporting requirements, and administrative processes that change frequently.  HR1 has exacerbated the public benefit access challenges faced by state agencies, communities and residents as they seek to maximize delivery and use of public benefits and reduce costs and barriers to participation. This session explored how philanthropy and field partners in North Carolina are working to develop a new model of public benefits access information exchange that works across issue silos and centers participant voice and experience.

Guest Speakers:

  • Kati Meirs, Dogwood Health Trust
  • Madison Allen, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust

2025 EOF Funder Learning Series

May 8, 2025 @ 2:00 PM ET | Supporting the Safety and Security of Grantees
In this call, guest speakers shared how their foundations are investing across all aspects of security and safety (digital, physical, psychological safety, crisis communications, and legal) through Nonprofit Secure, a free security and safety service for invited US-based grantee-partners of participating foundations.

Guest Speakers:

  • Erin Currier, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  • Jorge Soto, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Maria Tourtchaninova, Nonprofit Secure

June 12, 2025 @ 1:00 PM ET | Leaning in on Racial Equity in a Time of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Attacks
In this call, guest speakers engaged participants in a discussion about the Meyer Foundation’s rapid response work and ongoing commitment to racial equity.

Guest Speakers:

  • Leni Dworkis, Meyer Foundation
  • Jaqueline Tucker, Meyer Foundation

July 24, 2025 @ 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM ET  | Supporting Well-Being for Immigrant Families, even if you are not an “Immigration Funder”

In the United States, 1 in 4 children live in families with at least one immigrant parent. To thrive into adulthood, they need what all children need: nutritious food, a safe and stable home environment and a good education that prepares them to succeed in the workforce and support their communities. Although 90 percent of these children are U.S. citizens, new policies have created challenges for their safety, financial stability and overall well-being. In this call, guest speakers engaged participants in a discussion about a new effort to create space for funders who don’t usually see themselves in the immigration or immigrant family funding arenas to learn about the issues facing children in immigrant families through research, advocacy and community partnerships.

Guest Speakers:

  • Laura Speer, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Vivian Tseng, Foundation for Child Development

September 16, 2025 @ 2:00 PM ET | Navigating Foundation Exits and Entries
As more foundations and charitable organizations choose limited lifespans and work through spend downs, their eventual closure can create significant funding gaps for the causes they supported. At the same time, foundations are entering spaces and attending to recent foundation exits, as well as existing field and funder bodies of work. This session explored how funders are adapting to and planning for this changing landscape and continuing to support their grantees.

Guest Speaker: Eesha Bhave, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies

October 23, 2025 @ 2:00 PM ET | Catalyzing Responsible AI Innovation for Public Benefit Programs

This is a critical moment for public benefit delivery. With new federal requirements and funding constraints coinciding with unprecedented interest in AI, we have a unique opportunity to invest in bold, actionable solutions. This session explored how philanthropy is investing in AI-enabled and other solutions that reduce paperwork, improve accuracy, and make programs like SNAP and Medicaid work better for the people who rely on them.

Guest Speakers: Rachel Korberg and Tyonka Perkins Rimawi, The Families & Workers Fund