The Link
August/September 2022
Greetings from TPC Co-President Leslie Levenson
Fall is a great time to reconnect and re-engage with what matters most. In that spirit, TPC will kick off the year with “10 Years of Grant-Giving: A Celebration of TPC’s Impact Since 2012.” Our celebration on September 19 is a special opportunity to hear from Marla Felcher, one of TPC’s founders; spend time with past and present grantees; connect in person with TPC members; and sign up for committees or other volunteer opportunities. The highlight of our Celebration will be the awarding of our inaugural Catalyst Grant, a $25,000 award that will provide a second year of funding to one of our 2022 grantees. The surprise recipient has been chosen from a panel comprising four past TPC grantee leaders.
How can you be involved with TPC this year?
- Join a Grant Team: This is the core of our mission. You’ll work with six to eight TPC members, reading proposals and ultimately selecting an organization doing great work in the Boston area that will appear on our spring ballot.
- Get Informed: Our commitment to education sets us apart. We offer member gatherings with grantees, film and book discussions, and self-guided learning opportunities throughout the year. Our focus this year will be on systemic inequities and how systemic change happens with our kickoff event on October 13 (see below).
- Join a Committee: Share your talents and connect with other members. Learn more on September 19 or contact Amanda if you would like more information about our committees: Development; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Education; Finance; Governance; Finance, Governance, Grants; Marketing and Communications; and Membership.
- Support Grantees: Contribute “beyond the check.” Throughout the year, we will highlight opportunities to volunteer your time, talent, or resources to our grantees. (See Upcoming Events below for September opportunities.)
I see a very active and productive year ahead for TPC. We will strive to deepen our involvement with TPC grantees, welcome new members, leverage our new investment structure, and continue our journey of learning about how we can make a difference!
Be sure to bring a friend to our Celebration on September 19. I look forward to seeing all of you in person!
Board Member Nomination Process Is Open!
TPC’s Governance and Nominating Committee is seeking board member nominations for seats with terms beginning in January 2023. We are fortunate to have much of our current board continuing in 2023 and are looking to fill up to six seats. That said, we have a specific need for development and member engagement (specifically around Young Philanthropists and underrepresented members) skill sets as well as increased diversity.
Please submit nominations for any TPC colleagues who have attributes that align with these needs. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged! Nominees should have at least a full year’s tenure with TPC and been active within the organization by participating on grant teams, committees, or volunteer opportunities and attending dialogues and other events. You may also review the Board Member Expectations document as further guidance. If possible, please inform any nominee that you intend to nominate to confirm she would be willing to serve if selected by the board once the full process is complete.
Please use this link to share names and related information no later than Thursday, September 22. After reviewing nominations and interviewing candidates, we will present our nominating slate at the November board meeting and announce the full board once the process is complete.
Volunteer Opportunities
Monday, September 19, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. There is still time to sign up for TPC’s 10-Year Anniversary celebration! This fully in-person event will be held outdoors at the Signature Pavilion Lawn on D (420 D Street, Boston), complete with a tent in case of a fall shower.
Thursday, October 13, 7:00 pm. TPC will host “Rowing as a Vehicle for Systemic Change,” a discussion centered around a new film. Prior to the event, and in anticipation of the Head of the Charles, please watch the moving documentary “A Most Beautiful Thing,” which is about the nation’s first all-Black high school rowing team. Then gather on Zoom to hear from Arshay Cooper, Captain of the high school team featured, and Ted Benford, Executive Director of Community Rowing Inc. Come away with a deeper understanding of how a sport can promote systemic change and with questions about the role of philanthropy in supporting efforts like this. The documentary is available for screening on Amazon Prime and Peacock.
Friday, September 9. If you have not done so already, please update your TPC membership profile, which has been updated to include a few new questions. Access your profile by logging in through this link. Click your name in the upper left-hand corner then click “Edit Profile.”
Saturday, September 10, 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm. RIA Inc is celebrating its 2nd Annual Gala. TPC members are invited to attend the event, contribute to the organization directly, or participate in the Silent Auction to be held during the evening. For more information, visit this link.
Sunday, September 11, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Cambridge Camping is hosting “Camp ON the GO!” a community BBQ celebrating the hard work and future plans for the organization. Need more information?
Thursday, September 22, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Lawyers Clearinghouse is holding its annual meeting and would like to invite TPC members to attend, but especially those with a legal background who may be interested in working with them on an ongoing volunteer basis.
DEI Spotlight
Diversity | Equity | Inclusion
On August 24 President Biden announced his plan for student loan debt relief, following through on a promise he made during his campaign. It’s a complicated topic with many factors – racial inequality, the skyrocketing cost of universities, the economics of inflation at a macro level but also the micro-level impact of loan interest on individuals with loans – just to name a few. The White House’s announcement explains a few of these elements in more detail.
Not only does the plan forgive up to $20,000 in student debt for qualified borrowers, but it also caps the cost of future monthly payments based on the borrower’s income, fixes the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and outlines future plans to stabilize the cost of higher education and grow the Pell Grant program.
Many took up the campaign for student loan debt relief a decade ago, but it was, until recently, seen as a fringe political issue. It gained widespread public awareness only in the last two to three years and reached this conclusion, a plan for relief, only because of staunch advocates and sustained organizing from a diverse coalition.
- Video and Transcript: Rep. Ayanna Pressley on Student Loans: “40 Million People Slept a Little Better”
- Article: Student Debt Cancellation is a Racial Justice Issue. While this article is a little dated, written before relief was approved, it shares data on the need for debt relief in a clear and accessible way.
- Article: Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Doesn’t Do Enough for Black Americans
Want to share feedback, ideas or resources? Please email us directly at: Diversity@thephilanthropyconnection.org.