Mardell Moffett
Executive Director
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
I am proud of how truly intersectional our work is—how our straddling of program areas mirrors how interconnected life is, like a health program that includes theatre, for example.
What is the mission of your foundation and how does addressing economic equity and opportunity fit in?
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is deeply committed to improving the quality of life for all Washington, DC metropolitan area residents. We have five funding priorities (arts and humanities, community services, education, environment, and health and wellness) and embedded throughout is the expansion of equity and opportunity. How this looks varies widely. It could be through expanding housing options, school choice, or creating new audiences in the arts. Because of our open approach—we have no RFP process and give general operating support—the funds go where they are most needed.
This approach is one of the legacies of Morris Cafritz. He wanted to give back to the community that gave him so much. It also means that the Foundation can be nimble and responsive. For example, when the Washington, DC COVID-19 Relief Fund was rolled out, it excluded arts organizations. This was strategic, given the times we were living through, but it prompted Cafritz to do some research. What we found was that most arts organizations had only 2-months of operating funding; they were being hard-hit. We also saw that the employment of many was at stake—from parking attendants to stagehands, sound engineers, to artists. All those people needed to be kept in the equation. In response, we were able to seed and establish a fund for that. We had intended for it to be open to all arts groups, but then George Floyd was murdered. In response, we shifted the priority to BIPOC arts organizations.
As you think about your work, what excites you? What is some of the work you are most proud of?
I am proud of how truly intersectional our work is—how our straddling of program areas mirrors how interconnected life is, like a health program that includes theatre, for example.
I’m also proud of our core belief that the community has the answers. Our former Chairman, Calvin Cafritz, used to say, “If we can’t do it, who can?” and I think his legacy is alive in our response. We try to provide resources, and if we can’t, we try to figure out who can.
This approach has led to us incubating ideas and innovations that have blossomed and even gathered other organizations and funders over time. Like the Washington Regional Food Funders which helped foster a permanent position at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to focus on an agriculture agenda. This work started at Cafritz in 2011 when we gathered with funders to talk about health and food through the lens of equity.
Another idea we nurtured over 30 years ago was through grants to Mercy Medical Airlift to transport patients to regional hospitals. Now every hospital uses helicopters.
Our non-profit leaders energize me; they have such creative ideas. It’s thrilling to hear from them and then to do the work of thinking through the resourcing to make it happen. I see our ability to nurture community innovation, to help ideas blossom, as being something special.
What do you see as the biggest barriers or challenges in your work?
There’s one set of barriers around funding—there’s never enough of it—we always want to spend more than we have. Then there are challenges of building, forming, and maintaining the genuine relationships that underpin the work. This has become so much more complicated over Zoom, especially given the impediments that the imbalance of power generates.
Finally, I’d say today’s politics create an additional barrier—there is great need and it’s becoming harder to address. DC, as you know, is in a unique political position. We have no voice in the House of Representatives and Congress approves our budget. In essence, it means that our budget is approved by people who potentially live thousands of miles away. This means citizen-driven, progressive laws are more challenging to pass. It impedes citizen engagement and can leave us feeling like a political football.
How does participating in the EOF network benefit your work?
My favorite time to attend EOF meetings is after elections—the politics really do impact our communities. I also appreciate the different perspectives. Because our work focuses on DC and the Metro area, I don’t always know what’s happening outside of the region. Listening to the experts at EOF is so helpful. We get clearer about what’s coming down the pike, what I need to think about, and how solutions implemented in other areas might work here. It helps to improve our processes.
What is one question you would like to engage your funder colleagues in?
One question I have is about how our model connects to advocacy. For us, direct services inform our work around what policies need to change. I wonder how these messages get funnelled up from direct services to inform advocacy funders and how could we be supporting that process?
My next question is about the times we are living through—when negativity and hate are so easily spread, I wonder how we might do the same for messages of kindness and hope. If messages can be so contagious, what can we do to make it easier and compelling to spread positivity?
Finally, the continual questions of are there groups that should be on our radar? What work are others doing with residents of DC that we should know about?
Who is someone who has inspired you?
My parents inspired me. There was no extra money in our home when I was growing up, but they always made me feel that I could do anything I wanted, and they always supported those around them. To me, this speaks to the origins of the word philanthropy, which means love of humankind. In this way, my parents were true philanthropists.
I’ve worked at the Foundation for 30 years now, and in this time, I’ve been truly inspired by both my mentors here, Calvin Cafritz and Anne Allen. Calvin’s question “If not us, then who?” stays with me.
Finally, another source of inspiration is the non-profit leaders in the region. They are so humble; they have to overcome so many challenges; they are tired, and yet they bring inspiration and infectious energy to their work every day.
Thank you so much Mardell for your time and participation in our network!
This interview was completed by Sarah Griffiths, consultant to Economic Opportunity Funders.