About #TFN25
The Funders Network is turning 25!
We’re celebrating TFN’s milestone year with a thought-provoking and action-oriented 25th Anniversary Conference in Baltimore, March 17-19.
Our Baltimore gathering will bring together place-based, regional and national funders to deepen their learning, share their strategies and broaden their professional networks.
From small, rural community organizations to large urban foundations, our robust network of funders reflects a broad spectrum of philanthropic work.
TFN’s 25th Anniversary theme — Be Bold Together — reflects our belief that leaders in philanthropy can and should embrace courageous action and meaningful collaboration that will help unlock environmental, economic and racial justice.
- We’ll amplify the powerful and creative work that is making an impact on people, places and policies.
- We’ll make space for frank conversations about the shortcomings and challenges we face as a sector.
- We’ll take time to center joy — and celebrate the progress and the possibilities of creating a more equitable future, together.
Join us March 17-19 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel as we learn, share and strategize together.
Arriving early? Don’t miss out on our pre-conference events on Sunday, March 16! We’ll offer a Pre-Conference Learning Lab: Racial Equity in Practice (2:30-5 p.m.) and our popular TFN @ the Movies (6-8 p.m.)
What can you expect at TFN’s 25th Anniversary Conference?
Rooted in Racial Equity
We remain steadfast in our belief that we cannot address the escalating climate crisis, widening wealth gap and other inequities without addressing systemic racism.
Our equity-focused learning agenda centers those most harmed by the intersecting impacts of environmental, economic and social injustice.
TFN is committed to helping funders and allies navigate complicated political landscapes without compromising the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
From compelling Plenary Presenters to the generative space created through our Critical Conversations, our lineup of sessions and speakers offer advice, insight and motivation for the road ahead.
Learn more about TFN’s Strategic & Racial Equity Frameworks.
Professional Development
Join other leaders in philanthropy for skill-building workshops, deep-dive strategy sessions and opportunities to forge new connections — enriching funders, their teams and the broader philanthropic sector.
We are also offering a Pre-Conference Learning Lab: Racial Equity in Practice on Sunday, March 16, aimed at empowering philanthropic professionals to actively engage with and promote racial equity within their organizations and communities.
Joyful Connection
Creating welcoming, warm and inclusive spaces are a hallmark of TFN events. Whether you are a familiar face or a newcomer joining us for the first time, TFN’s 25th Annual Conference offers a chance to deepen bonds and forge new connections. Be sure to make time to attend our evening receptions and morning ad hocs to network with other attendees.
Nervous about networking or unsure about socializing? We get it.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our TFN team to help break the ice. (We’ll be wearing staff IDs, but you can also find us in the conference app or at the Welcome Desk.)
Learning from Place
Baltimore is home to resilient grassroots movements and community-driven initiatives that have emerged in response to systemic issues. Its challenges and successes mirror those in communities large and small.
Mobile Workshops take funders beyond the conference room to hear from local changemakers and explore how funding can catalyze meaningful change and collaborative strategies.
We’ll also celebrate Baltimore’s culinary culture and food systems at TFN’s Eat Here! Reception at the Garage at R. House. This venue is located in Baltimore’s Remington neighborhood, a local destination for artists, makers, nonprofits and innovators.
Narrative Change & Artistic Impact
TFN’s conferences highlight the power of media and the arts to create narrative change and social impact.
We’ll kick off our Baltimore conference with an Opening Plenary presented by a local arts organization. Our popular TFN @ the Movies event features a timely and thought-provoking documentary, followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers and others involved in the production. (Plus popcorn and movie-friendly snacks!)
We also support local artists and cultural practitioners through Artistic Interludes that take place throughout our conference.
TFN 25th Anniversary Conference Co-Chairs & Planning Committee
TFN25 Co-Chairs
Thomasina (Tomi) Hiers
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Danista E. Hunte
Maryland Philanthropy Network
Kacey Wetzel
Chesapeake Bay Trust
Read this message from our Co-chairs!
Planning Committee
- Isabel Barrios, Greater New Orleans Foundation
- Jacqueline Caldwell, TouchPoint Baltimore
- Erin Coryell, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
- Kaying Hang, The Center at Sierra Health Foundation
- Elisabeth Hyleck, Maryland Philanthropy Network
- Elizabeth Love, Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
- Surabhi Pandit, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
- Sally Ray, Center for Disaster Philanthropy
- Nathaniel Smith, Partnership for Southern Equity
- Sheena Solomon, The Gifford Foundation
- Scot Spencer, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Karla Twedt-Ball, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
We want to extend a huge thank you to our 25th Anniversary Conference Co-chairs and Planning Committee. Their support and insight is essential to helping us craft a learning agenda that is interdisciplinary, cross-cutting and aligned with TFN’s Strategic & Racial Equity Frameworks.
Agenda + Speakers
TFN’s annual conferences bring together hundreds of funders, partners and practitioners to deepen their learning and expand their professional networks. We connect grantmakers across the funding spectrum — from place-based, regional and statewide grantmaking institutions to national and international funders.
Read on for Agenda Highlights or scroll on to view the full agenda.
Agenda Highlights
Sunday, March 16
Our conference officially kicks off on Monday, March 17 — but we have a great lineup of pre-conference events for those able to join us early!
Pre-Conference Learning Lab: Racial Equity in Practice | 2:30 – 5 p.m.
This Learning Lab — facilitated by Natasha Harrison, president and CEO of CommunityBuild Ventures — is designed as an immersive experience to empower philanthropic professionals to actively engage with and promote racial equity within their organizations and communities.
Please note: There is an additional $250 fee for this session.
Opening Reception | 5-6 p.m.
Join TFN’s President and CEO Dion Cartwright for light refreshments and a chance to connect and network with other attendees. Location TBD.
TFN @ the Movies | 6 – 8 p.m.
Join us for TFN @ the Movies! We’ll present a timely, thought-provoking documentary as well as Q&A with those involved in the making of the film — and plenty of movie-friendly treats and beverages.
We’ll share our cinematic selection in the coming days. Stay tuned!
Monday, March 17
We’ll kick off our 25th Anniversary Conference with breakfast and opening remarks, followed by a full morning of Skill-Building Workshops.
At midday, we’ll gather for lunch and our Opening Plenary: Ubuntu! I Am Because We Are with WombWorks Productions, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that seeks to heal and empower youth, families and communities through performing arts.
We’ll wrap up the afternoon with thought-provoking Breakout Sessions and an Afternoon Plenary focused on empowering and supporting bold leadership.
Tuesday, March 18
Join TFN’s President and CEO Dion Cartwright for a morning conversation about leveraging our collective power as a network to move the needle on environmental, economic and racial justice.
Our Tuesday Morning Plenary takes a look at Federal Funding on the Frontlines of Climate Change and philanthropy’s role in ensuring equitable implementation of historic infrastructure investments amid a shifting political landscape. Moderated by Helen Chin of the Communities First Fund, our panel discussion will feature Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, formerly of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Dr. Sacoby Wilson of the University of Maryland; and Meishka L. Mitchell of the Emerald Cities Collaborative.
Get ready to leave the confines of the conference room for our Mobile Workshops. Choose from one of our five Mobile Workshop options to learn from and connect with the changemakers, movement leaders and funder partners driving meaningful impact in neighborhoods across Baltimore.
We’ll wrap up our second full day with our Eat Here! evening reception, celebrating Baltimore’s culinary culture and food systems.
Wednesday, March 19
Our morning Critical Conversations are designed to create a generative space to unpack relevant and pressing issues facing our sector.
We’ll gather for a Facilitated Reflections and Debrief session to share and process what we’ve learned at TFN25, including opportunities for action and next steps. And we’ll wrap up our time in Baltimore with a compelling Closing Plenary presentation — stay tuned for details!
And we hope you’ll join us for the Post-conference Inclusive Economies Meeting: Leveraging Federal Funds from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, immediately following our Closing Plenary and lunch. Join TFN’s Inclusive Economies working group to deepen understanding of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, including work already underway and strategies for the future.
Agenda
Speakers
Registration
We hope you join us for TFN’s 2025 Annual Conference: Be Bold Together
Registration is open to donors, staff, directors and trustees of all grantmaking institutions. If you’re unsure about your organization’s membership status, please reach out to membership@fundersnetwork.org
Early Bird registration ends Jan. 31!
Attendees
Early Bird Rates (through Jan. 31)
TFN Member: $850
Non-member: $1,350
Regular Rates
TFN Member: $950
Non-member: $1,450
Please note there is an additional $250 fee for the Pre-Conference Learning Lab: Racial Equity in Practice on March 16.
Member Group Rates
TFN Members: To support team learning and action-building within your organization, TFN is pleased to offer our members discounted group registration rates.
Click here to unlock 20% off registration for you and colleagues at your organization.
PLACES Alum
Discounted Rate:
$600
Members of TFN’s 2024 PLACES Cohorts will receive complimentary registration.
If cost is a barrier to your organization participating in this event, please reach out to Maureen Lawless, Executive Vice President, at maureen@fundersnetwork.org.
Venue & Lodging
We’ll gather March 17-19 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, located on the city’s historic Inner Harbor.
The hotel is located roughly eight miles from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
We have a block of rooms reserved for our conference, but space may be limited. Please be sure to book as soon as possible!
Hotel Information
Address: 202 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Md., 21202
Phone: (877) 212-5752 | (410) 547-1200
Childcare
TFN will provide limited childcare for attendees and speakers at our 25th Anniversary Conference in order to create an inclusive space and lower the barriers for working parents and caregivers to participate fully in our conference.
TFN has retained the services of The Nanny Network, a full-service childcare staffing agency serving the Baltimore, Md., Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia metropolitan areas.
Please note that while childcare will be provided onsite, children are not allowed in any conference sessions or Mobile Tours. (Children are welcome at breakfast and at the evening receptions.)
Childcare FAQ's
Is there an additional cost for childcare?
Is there a deadline to register for childcare?
- Yes. For planning purposes, attendees requesting childcare services must register by Feb. 3, 2025.
- Childcare is only available for those who have reserved their slot during registration. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate any onsite registration for childcare.
- Attendees bringing children will also be asked to fill out a separate registration form for the Nanny Network. (Forms will be provided in advance.)
Is there a minimum/maximum age requirement?
When and where will childcare be available?
- March 17 from 8:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- March 18 from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- March 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
What is the child to childcare staff ratio?
- 6 weeks to 2 years old: 2:1
- 3-7 years old: 4:1
- 8-12 years old: 5:1
- 13 and up: 8:1
Are there vaccination requirements for children?
Will meals be provided for children?
Is individual childcare an option?
Accessibility & Wellness
COVID Health and Safety Guidelines
We look forward to seeing you in person and are committed to hosting inclusive and accessible events.
In the spirit of mutual care and collective safety, we request that attendees please adhere to the safety measures outlined in TFN’s Covid Health and Safety Protocols.
Accessibility Accommodations
We want our 25th Anniversary Conference to be a positive and productive experience for all participants.
As you register, please let the TFN team know of any additional accessibility needs such as assistive listening devices, interpretive services, wheelchair accessibility, mobility restrictions or dietary needs. Information provided in advance is essential to allowing us to prepare accordingly.
The following accessibility measures will be in place for all conference participants.
- Accessible rooms in our hotel block, please indicate when booking reservation
- Quiet, low-stimulus Wellness Room
- Elevator access at the conference hotel venue.
- Food allergy accommodations with our hotel partners.
- Service animals are welcome at the hotel conference venue.
The Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel offers additional accessibility information here.
Please reach out to tfn25@fundersnetwork.org with any additional requests or questions about accommodations.
Support Our Mission
Join us in celebrating our 25th anniversary — and help support our mission for years to come!
Whether it’s through an organizational sponsorship or individual donation, your contribution will help us sustain our network and live our values.
Donations and sponsorships support our commitment to equitable compensation for all vendors, artists and non-profit speakers, as well as efforts to adopt sustainable practices whenever possible.
Individual Donations
TFN 25th Anniversary: Be Bold Together
Support TFN’s broader mission to activate bold philanthropic leadership. Your contribution helps sustain our network and provide equity-centered programming, opportunities to collaborate and platforms to share strategies and resources.
PLACES 15th Anniversary Fund
More than 200 philanthropy professionals have completed TFN’s equity-centered PLACES Fellowship, becoming agents of change across the sector. Your support helps us provide complimentary registration for PLACES Fellows and offer discounted rates for PLACES Alums.
Beyond a Land Acknowledgement
Only a sliver of philanthropic dollars go to Indigenous communities. In 2024, TFN adopted a new land acknowledgement practice: For all in-person gatherings, TFN will also make a financial contribution to a local Indigenous-led organization.
We will be acknowledging and contributing to a Baltimore organization serving the Native American/Indigenous communities.
Support Local Vendors & Food Systems
TFN’s Eat Here! culinary reception celebrates the rich tapestry of the Baltimore area’s culinary scene and agricultural heritage. Your contribution helps support local chefs and vendors, notably minority- and women-owned businesses.
Sponsorships
TFN offers mission- and issue-aligned sponsorship opportunities at a variety of levels.
Sponsors may also provide general operating support for the conference rather than sponsoring a specific event or item, and will receive the benefits offered at that level.