Funder Networks

EOF supports time-limited funder working groups to support information sharing and learning as well as the coordination and alignment of investments among identified areas of interest.

Federal and state elections, regardless of outcomes, provide an important opportunity for philanthropy to assess the new environment and identify new windows of opportunity to work strategically and collaboratively.

Economic Opportunity Funders (EOF) is creating a 2024 Elections Funder Strategy Room to provide a table for members to share common questions, analyses of challenges and opportunities, and philanthropic strategies post-2024 election.

The Strategy Room will include four virtual sessions with the possibility of an in-person gathering during our Budget and Tax Briefing in March 2025.

REGISTRATION FOR THE FUNDER STRATEY ROOM HAS CLOSED.

Post-Election Planning Strategy Room (September – November 2022). This strategy room supported peer exchange and dialogue among funders interested in scenario planning in preparation for the political transition after the 2022  elections. This strategy room engaged 17 funders from 12 grantmaking institutions in deep learning and conversation regarding their strategy and potential areas of alignment. The Strategy Room was facilitated by Lisa McGill of LM Strategies Consulting and included four virtual sessions. Participants were also invited to attend the EOF Post-Election Briefing on November 30-December 1 in Washington, DC and participate in a session exploring themes and strategies that emerged during the strategy room.

Building State Advocacy and Engagement Capacity Funder Strategy Room (October – December 2021). This strategy room supported peer exchange and dialogue among funders focused on statewide strategies to build advocacy and engagement capacity across an ecosystem of organizations within a state. Sixteen funders from twelve institutions participated in the strategy room. Four video calls were held. Participants also completed a pre-meeting survey and participated in occasional peer-share activities between sessions.

Post-Election Funder Strategy Room (November 2020 – February 2021): Federal and state elections, regardless of outcomes, provide an important opportunity for philanthropy to assess the new environment and identify new windows of opportunity to work strategically and collaboratively. EOF established this funder strategy room to provide a table around which members can gather to share common questions, analyses of challenges and opportunities, and philanthropic strategies post-2020 election. Thirty-seven funders participate in the strategy room. Seven video calls were held. A google drive and listserv were created to support the working group.

COVID-19 Funder Strategy Room (April – September 2020). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its many impacts, EOF launched a funder strategy room in April 2020 to support information sharing and learning as well as the coordination and alignment of investments around economic security and support for low-wage workers. Thirty-eight funders participated in the strategy room. A google drive and listserv were created to support the working group. EOF also began curating and sharing resources on a COVID-19 Emergency Response and Planning resource page. Six video calls were held.

Discussion Group on Equity, Tax Policy, and Community Engagement (May – December 2019). In 2017 and 2018, Economic Opportunity Funders (EOF) and the EITC Funders Network engaged their members in conversations about the role of tax policy in advancing racial and gender equity. As part of these discussions, we found that too often the foundations working on equity and the foundations working on tax policy were not in the same rooms sharing analyses and strategies. In 2019 we launched a discussion group to provide a platform for funders to share strategies, questions and learnings. A google drive and listserv were created to support the working group as well as spreadsheet of related field examples and resources. Three video calls were held.

Transformation of Work, Workers and Social Supports Working Group (May – December 2019).  Continuing to build out our exploration of the interconnecting spheres of the transformation of work, workers and social supports, EOF launched a working group in 2019 to raise awareness of the substantive areas and funder strategies connected to policy, narrative, and power. A google drive and listserv were created to support the working group as well as spreadsheet of related field examples and resources.  Three video calls have been held and EOF dedicated its Fall meeting on bringing an equity lens to this topic.

Post-Election Funder Strategy Room (February 2017 – March 2018). An invitation only working group was created in late 2016 with the goal of convening a small group of policy-focused funders to share information and strategies related to existing and new investments as well as policy and political intelligence across the various poverty and opportunity issues and sectors in response to the new political and policy environment. Activities included three in-person meetings, six teleconferences, a private listserv and state deep dive discussions focused on four key topics: ACA/Medicaid, workers’ rights, safety net, and immigrant families.

Budget Working Group (2016). The Budget Working Group was a joint affinity group effort formed in early 2016 to bring together funders from Economic Opportunity Funders, Peace and Security Funders Group, and Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation’s Money in Politics Working Group who are interested in exploring the unequal dynamics of wealth, power and influence in America through the lens of the federal budget. After hosting several events in 2016, the working group was able to meet its primary goals but had run its course as an active working group.

Communications Collaborative (2009-2015). Established in 2009, the Communications Collaborative was formed to bring together funders interested in coordinating investments to build communications capacity in the field, with a focus on the essential role of government and advancing the alignment of national narratives. Activities included in-person meetings, webinars, a private listserv, and making connections among members pursuing similar objectives or working in similar regions. Two special projects emerged from this work:

• EITC Pooled Fund: A pooled fund was established to support rapid response, campaign and policy development efforts in the states to protect, expand and create new state EITCs.
• EOF Mapping Project: An online mapping tool was created to identify and illustrate the various state groups and initiatives funders are working with and to help foster connections across these efforts.

This working group is no longer active, with key activities ending in 2015 and a listserv remaining active until the end of 2018.