The Link
August 2024
Strengthening Our Grant Pool: Your Impact, Our Future
Dear Members,
We’re excited to welcome you to this month’s issue of The Philanthropy Connection’s newsletter The Link! TPC is gearing up for an exciting fall, including events, renewals, and the start of our next grant cycle. We want to take a moment to discuss something vital to our mission—the TPC Grant Pool.
Where Does Our Grant Pool Come From?
Our grant pool is the lifeblood of TPC, powering the work of extraordinary nonprofits. Did you know that 87% of every dollar contributed through membership goes directly into this pool? The rest comes from individual donations above membership and, when necessary, our reserves. To date, these avenues have enabled us to award over 105 grants, distributing over $2,750,000 to deserving organizations.
It is important to remember that the size of our membership directly impacts the grants we give. If we gain more members, we can grant more. Conversely, to remain sustainable, some years may require us to reduce the number of grants we award or the amount at which grants are awarded, to align with the support received through membership investments and donations.
Building a Sustainable Future Together
Behind the scenes, our leadership is working to strengthen the power of our existing offerings, and identify new areas for growth. Our goal is to ensure that our grant pool remains robust and sustainable.
There are many ways for members to continue their support with this goal in mind! To help match the last years’ $250,000 pool and end the year on a strong note:
Three Ways You Can Make a Difference
- Invite Colleagues and Friends to Join: Our October event is the perfect opportunity to introduce TPC to your colleagues, friends, and family members. Save the date and share our mission!
- Renew and Consider Renewing at a Higher Level: Most of our funding comes in during the late fall as members renew, but remember: It is never too early to renew! Renewing now helps us forecast our grant pool. If you are able, consider renewing at a higher membership tier. Every increase directly supports our grant-making capacity.
- Match Your Gift at Work: If your workplace offers it, ask your employer to match your membership investment. Or, ask them to consider sponsoring TPC. All gifts made to TPC are tax-deductible. Email us to learn more.
- Donate: If you would like to increase support beyond your membership, consider making a donation. Alternatively, if you know a non-member who would like to support TPC, encourage them to donate. Every dollar counts toward making a greater impact.
Together, we can ensure that TPC continues to empower organizations making a difference in our communities. Be sure to read on about all the great work of our grantees, as well as opportunities to get involved. Thank you for your commitment to keeping our grant pool strong!
Events
Meet TPC: Grantee and Member Mixer
Swing by the Seaport after work for an exciting evening of philanthropy, networking, and community engagement at Cisco Brewery. This event is open to women energized by our mission to engage in collective giving to support nonprofits addressing systemic inequities in the greater Boston area.
Whether this is your first TPC event or you simply want to socialize with fellow members and non-profit leaders, this will be the perfect opportunity to gather with other service-oriented individuals of all ages and professions who are passionate about making a difference. Meet TPC grantees and learn why our 250+ members find meaning in their membership.
For every new membership received by October 31st, $200 will be added to the grant pool thanks to two generous TPC donors. By introducing your friends to TPC, the grant pool grows, and our impact on local nonprofits is amplified. We encourage you to bring along women in your life who are interested in making a positive impact on their community. Together, we can create lasting change through collective philanthropy.
Each registrant will receive a complimentary drink ticket upon arrival. There will be a selection of fantastic food truck options for purchase.
Date: Tuesday, October 1st, 2024
Time: 5:30-7:30
Location: Cisco Brewery (85 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210)
Don’t miss out on this rewarding event at the Cisco Brewery!
Get Your Hands Dirty for a Great Cause!
Looking to make a tangible difference with your time? Join fellow TPC members for a rewarding morning at Mill City Grows in Lowell, MA! This is your chance to support one of our grantees in a hands-on way while connecting with others who share your passion for community and sustainability.
What to Expect:
- When: Saturday, September 14, 10 AM – 1 PM
- Who: TPC members are encouraged to register their friends and family (kids 8+ yrs old are welcome!)
- Dig In: Arrive at 10 AM ready to spend a few hours harvesting and weeding to help maintain the gardens that fuel local food justice.
- Behind-the-Scenes Tour: After our work, enjoy a guided tour of Mill City Grows’ facilities and see firsthand how they transform urban spaces into vibrant food sources.
- Optional Lunch: Stick around to share a casual lunch at the farm—bring your own or grab something local!
Why It Matters: Mill City Grows is more than just a garden—it’s a movement for food justice in Lowell. By increasing access to land, locally grown food, and educational resources, they’re fostering healthier communities and greater economic independence.
Let’s roll up our sleeves and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable community—one plant at a time!
Save These Dates!
Mark your calendars for these future opportunities to meet fellow TPC members while helping uplift our grantees’ missions:
Oct – Date TBD
Boston Food Forest Coalition
Hope Garden in Dorchester
Help put the gardens to bed for the winter.
February 13, 2025
Galentine’s Day!
Dignity Matters in Westborough
Pack menstrual products, bras, and underwear to help women and girls in need.
Gardening Workshops
Boston Food Forest Coalition invites the TPC Community to all of their Workshops, with interesting subjects such as Edible Plants, All About Herbs, and Fabric Dying with Plants. Check out their offerings and register here.
Run with Team Dignity Matters and help fight Period Poverty
Join the 2024 Boston 10K for Women in support of Dignity Matters
October 12, 2024 in Boston, MA
Founded in 1977, the Boston 10K for Women is the second longest-running all-women’s sporting event in the world. Each member of Dignity Matter’s Boston 10K for Women team commits to raising $500 for Dignity Matters.
TPC Board Nominations are Open!
Now! TPC’s Governance and Nominating Committee is seeking board member nominations for seats with terms beginning in January 2025. We are fortunate to have much of our current board continuing in 2025 and are looking to fill up to 4 seats. That said, we have a specific need for those interested in supporting grants, development, governance, finance, education, and member engagement (specifically around Young Philanthropists and underrepresented members), as well as increased diversity.
So, please put on your thinking caps and submit nominations for yourself or your fellow TPC colleagues! We welcome nominations of any TPC members who have attributes that align with the board’s needs, or who otherwise welcome the opportunity to deepen their involvement with TPC through Board service. 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 on TPC’s Members Only portal 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 process is complete.
Please use this link to share names and related information no later than Thursday, September 26th. After reviewing nominations and interviewing candidates, we will announce the full board in the late fall.
Advocacy through Education and Research: Our Grantees
One of TPC’s ongoing strategic priorities is to increase our understanding and grant support for advocacy work aimed at the inequities affecting the lives of individuals and families in the Greater Boston area. As many TPC members have learned, advocacy can involve many different types of activities, including education and research. Here are a few examples of our grantees raising awareness of the issues they are tackling and the long-term solutions needed for their communities.
Returning grantee, Young Man with a Plan is an untiring advocate for black and brown boys and teens in Boston. YMAP takes a holistic approach to mentoring these youth and serves as a critical voice on behalf of their sustainable success across many different forums. Executive Director, Jaykyri Simpson, was recently interviewed by The Boston Globe.
Women’s Money Matters coaches low-income women and girls in financial wellness and security. WMM documents the “Cliff Effect,” where increased earnings can lead to the sudden loss of public assistance and leave families worse off. It is part of a new collaborative effort to address this gap. These issues were brought to life last month by a WWM graduate who shared her personal story with The Boston Globe.
Alumni grantee, La Colaborativa has been a cornerstone of support for Greater Boston’s LatinX Community, including new immigrants, undocumented families, and other vulnerable community members. They have brought their experience to the front lines of caring for the more recent influx of new migrants to Massachusetts. Executive Director, Gladys Vega spoke up passionately for their support and strongly advocated for the need for federal policy changes in a July interview on WGBH radio.
These are just a few examples, and TPC’s Education Committee will continue to highlight more. If you are interested in helping TPC expand our knowledge of and support for grantees’ advocacy work, please email the education committee at smeehan@
Equity Challenge
We just wrapped up our latest 7-day Equity Challenge, one of TPC’s most popular education offerings! The asynchronous, online Challenge began by asking participants to think about their own identities and assumptions. The next step was to start confronting our country’s history and relationship with identity, urging participants to take a closer look at the deeply rooted inequities in our systems and institutions. Throughout the week, members explored difficult topics like structural racism and oppression, health disparities, and privilege, sparking meaningful dialogue on how we can all champion equity in our personal, professional, and philanthropic lives. At the conclusion, participants are invited to identify specific steps they can take to further this work as TPC members.
If you missed this one, stay tuned for the next Challenge, which will be offered in 2025 —it’s an opportunity to learn, reflect, and take action that you won’t want to miss! The DEI Committee welcomes your participation – please email diversity@
Grantee Focus
Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice
Mabel Center is justice in action. They believe that every human – regardless of status or place of origin – deserves the dignity and respect of legal representation. Mabel Center takes on tough and complex asylum cases, representing women and children whose strength and resilience have allowed them to survive unimaginable violence in pursuit of safety in the United States.
In response to the migrant housing crisis, Mabel Center is providing direct support in an emergency shelter. They have an immediate need for funding to purchase the needed technology and supplies to their attorneys and paralegals.
One Can Help provides the missing resources that at-risk youth, foster children, and underserved families involved in the juvenile court and/or child welfare systems urgently need.
Make a donation and learn more about their incredible work and impact here in their annual report.