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2025 Regional Funder Gathering

Tuesday, October 07, 2025, 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Significant changes are being made that affect the landscape of grantmaking and public policy with direct impacts to the sector in our region and communities they serve.

Building on several years of collaboration, Maryland Philanthropy Network and Virginia Funders Network are bringing funders together from across the Mid-Atlantic to network, share learning, and explore opportunities for partnership. This will be a great opportunity to convene and connect with other funders in the region around the current environment impacting nonprofits and communities, what you are working on, and how you are responding to this moment.

Among our esteemed guests, Deborah Aubert Thomas, President and CEO of United Philanthropy Forum, will be in the room as a resource to share additional thoughts and perspectives from their work supporting the philanthropic sector across the country.

Agenda Highlights:

State of the Region

Panel Discussion: Fiscal Analysis of the current environment for philanthropy and nonprofits

Ashley Kenneth, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis

Benjamin Orr, The Maryland Center on Economic Policy

Erica Williams, DC Fiscal Policy Institute

Michael Cassidy, Annie E. Casey Foundation (Moderator)

Grantmaking Practice Exchange

Facilitated table discussions to discuss the funder response to the current environment in local jurisdictions, cross-sharing and learning opportunities, and collaboration strategies.

Regional Agenda

Tracey Loh from Brookings Institution will share data about the region followed by a facilitated conversation about moving forward together, priorities, and ways to support funders in the region.

Travel and Parking:

Please note that onsite parking will not be validated. We recommend parking at 1401 H Street NW, the parking garage located across the street from the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown. From H Street, you will pull into the garage located on the left just past a green awning with the sign 'Café Chocolat.' Once you park, take the elevator the UL Level and exit onto H Street. Make a left onto H Street and another left onto 14th Street. The Hilton Garden Inn is located on the right hand side on 14th Street.

Please use these alternative parking garages should the former be full:

· 1350 I Street NW, Washington DC 20005

· 733 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20005

· 1401 New York Ave NW, Washington DC 2005

Metro Stops:

Metro Center (11 min walk): Red, Blue, Silver, Orange line

McPherson Square (1 min walk): Blue, Silver, Orange line

Who Should Attend:

This in-person dialogue is open to all funders who support Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia and will be an opportunity to build on individual and collective efforts to support communities across the region. For assistance registering, please contact Elyse Robinson.

For more information, please contact Shanetta Martin.