Join Maryland Philanthropy Network, the Abell Foundation, and the Middendorf Foundation for a joint program examining recent research on Baltimore City’s contracting, payment, and permitting processes and how delays in those processes negatively affect non-profits and the high-need communities they serve. At this briefing, you will hear from authors of the newly released Abell Report on the City’s contracting process and learn about the findings from a joint Middendorf/MPN study on the City’s permitting and grantmaking systems. The goals of the briefing are to share the scale and scope of the challenges, recommend changes, and discuss how funders can support the implementation of these changes in an effort to strengthen and support Baltimore’s non-profit sector.

As our network seeks to further understand the critical shifts philanthropy is being asked to make, Maryland Philanthropy Network is continuing to use our annual meeting as an opportunity to exploring key topics to shift perspectives, cede power, and collaborate with communities to heal and achieve greater equity. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, a renowned thought-leader, strategist, policymaker, and community liaison, will help us understand climate justice as central to the pursuit of racial justice and freedom. Kondwani Fidel, Baltimore native and globally recognized poet, will once again share his thought-provoking poetry with us, recognizing that arts and creativity have an indelible role in moving people to action for lasting social change.

Maryland Philanthropy Network is pleased to be a partner with the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project for this multi-part series that will explore the relationship between the two approaches, to understand why a racial equity lens is needed (the issue), what a racial equity lens is in a trust-based approach (the answer), and how to operationalize it (the implementation). This series will include comprehensive data-informed content, rich discussion and insights from sector thought leaders, as well as an opportunity to connect with a cohort of peers actively working to understand and operationalize these concepts within their grantmaking organizations.

Join Maryland Philanthropy Network for what is sure to a be a stimulating and inspiring conversation with Secretary Rafael López, leader of Maryland’s Department of Human Services. Learn about his vision for the department, key priorities, the current opportunity for systems change in our state, and how to work better together to support Maryland communities. Given the intersectional nature of the issues, all MPN members are encouraged to attend.