The Link

April 2022

Excellent News from the Membership Committee

Nearly a year after TPC introduced its new Member Investment Structure, the Membership Committee would like to give you an update as to how successful this change has been. Under the former structure, TPC had 270 members. This year, we are pleased to tell you our membership has grown modestly to 275 with an additional 18 sponsored Grantee members. While we always lose members each year due to life changes, we gained 45 new members and, happily, 12 former members rejoined our ranks. Because several members moved to the $2,500 Sustainer level and the majority of women remained at their previous contribution level, we are delighted (and a little proud) that we exceeded our $250,000 grant pool goal and, equally important, have taken a step toward reaching one of our strategic goals by becoming a more diverse, inclusive organization. The next two sections illustrate how changing our Member Investment Structure has led to progress on reaching two other important strategic goals.

Catalyst Grant Announcement

Big News! We are excited to announce TPC’s first multi-year “Catalyst Grant,” to be awarded to one of our 2022-23 grantees. This new grant model is a direct outcome of the strategic plan that TPC’s Board crafted and approved last year, affirming our commitment to practices that are inclusive, equitable, and centered around those with lived experience. (Read more…)

TPC Advocacy Task Force

Engaging in advocacy promotes systemic and sustainable change beyond what grantmaking can do. In early fall 2021, the Board formed a task force to address the role of advocacy within TPC. Kathy Dunigan, Ruth Ferguson, Amber Gomes, Susan Sidel, and Kathryn Soderholm explored what advocacy is, what is allowed within a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and why and how TPC should or should not engage in advocacy. (Read more…)

Save the Date! Grant Awards and All Member Meeting

(Guests Invited!)

The event, on Wednesday, June 8 at 7:30 pm, will be virtual with a number of ways you can choose to attend:

  • Host or attend a “Watch Party”
  • Invite women who might be interested in TPC to watch with you from your home or office
  • Enjoy the program from the comfort of your home

We need a few more Watch Party hosts. TPC will coordinate all the logistics (e.g., invitations, sign-ups, directions) and hosts can be reimbursed up to $250 for refreshments. If you are interested in hosting at your home, office, or other venue, please contact Bodi Luse or Elizabeth Angelino by April 25. And, while we’re on the topic, please save the date for TPC’s 10th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, September 15, 2022.

Upcoming Events/Volunteer Opportunities

Monday, April 25, 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm. If you haven’t already registered, please find a way to join us for our next Philanthropy Dialogue, “Reflecting on the Impact Spectrum: How three organizations define their approaches to serving their communities. We will be joined byRoseann Bongiovani, ED of GreenRoots, Dr. Geralde Gabeau, ED of Immigration Family Services, and Maureen Belger of Dignity Matters (featured interview below). They will describe their organization’s distinct approaches to practice, including direct service and systemic change, which help to impact the people they serve. Guests are welcome!

Sunday, May 22. Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) finds permanent adoptive homes for children and teens in foster care. MARE’s largest and most important fundraiser of the year, Jordan’s 5K Run/Walk for Adoption will be held on Sunday, May 22. Learn more here or even better, form a TPC team!

BEST Hospitality Training is looking for TPC volunteers to practice interviewing skills with graduates of its healthcare environmental services and hotel housekeeping training programs. Practice interview sessions will be held virtually between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm the weeks of:

  • May 2 through May 13
  • June 6 through June 17

If you have a knack for résumé crafting, please volunteer for one of the sessions below:

  • May 23 through May 27

To sign up or for information, contact BEST staff member Lori Sylvia. New volunteers are required to attend a one-hour virtual training session.

Grantee Impact #1: Dignity Matters

Liaisons: Sushmita Datari and Anne Ruggles

Dignity Matters’ (DM) mission is to provide women and girls who are homeless or living in poverty with a reliable supply of monthly menstrual care and underwear. Established in 2016, DM helps women safely manage their periods, regain confidence, and participate fully in their own lives. It distributes to a network of 160 Massachusetts nonprofits, including shelters, public schools, housing programs, and food pantries. DM’s goal is to ensure that every woman in need in Massachusetts has free access to period protection and undergarments every month. (Read more…)

 

Grantee Impact #2: GreenRoots

Liaisons: Rosemary Driscoll and Judy Ferretti

GreenRoots (GR) is a resident-led organization working to achieve environmental justice and improved public health. GR manages five urban growing spaces including Chelsea’s only urban farm. Vegetables, fruit, and herbs from these growing spaces help to address food insecurity in Chelsea’s food desert. (Read more…)

 

DEI Spotlight

Diversity | Equity | Inclusion

On the heels of Women’s History month, history was made in April with the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. As she noted in a recent speech, “It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court.”

Judge Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination process was not easy, with partisan lines of inquiry and political grandstanding, and with pointed personal, though often veiled, slights, but she has prevailed. And that is cause for celebration!

  • Video: Judge Jackson Speaks After Historic Supreme Court Nomination
  • Article: Oprah on the Historic Confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court  

Want to share feedback, ideas or resources? Please email us directly at: Diversity@thephilanthropyconnection.org.