9:00am PT

Pre-Conference Leadership Intensive

Courage to Lead: Holding the Line, Building the Future     

The Philanthropic Leaders Track opened with a pre-conference intensive that grounded participants in the political moment shaping housing justice work across the country. Jessica and Maegan welcomed funders by naming the shift from the traditional Funders Forum format and acknowledging that this year’s gathering comes at a time of significant change — both within Funders Together and across the broader housing and racial justice landscape. Participants were also joined by Alexander Hardy of Get Some Joy, who invited the group to reflect on the importance of joy, connection, and relationship-building as part of sustaining this work, even in the face of uncertainty. Together, the opening conversation encouraged participants to approach the convening with openness about what feels unsettled and what philanthropy may need to do differently in response.

In a keynote conversation moderated by Michael Durham, Dawn Phillips challenged funders to consider how rising authoritarianism, criminalization, and attacks on the social safety net require deeper alignment between philanthropy and movements for racial and housing justice. The discussion set the tone for the track, emphasizing that this moment calls for collaboration, courage, and a willingness to move beyond familiar approaches.

Speakers:

• Jessica Venegas, Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer, Funders Together for Housing Justice
• Maegan Scott, Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer, Funders Together for Housing Justice
• Alexander Hardy, Co-Founder and Program Director, GetSomeJoy
• Dawn Phillips, Executive Director, Right to the City Alliance
• Michael Durham, Director of Networks, Funders Together for Housing Justice (moderater)

Resources:

• Communities Over Commodities: People-Driven Alternatives to an Unjust Housing System
• Block & Build 2.0 at the Housing Justice Front
• Get Some Joy Digital Grief Kit
• Presentation

2:45pm PT

Spotlight #1

What We Cannot Do Alone: Philanthropic Leadership in Collaboration

This session focused on the importance of collaboration among funders at a time when housing justice work increasingly requires coordinated, place-based strategies. Emily Krisciunas reflected on lessons from regional and statewide funder networks, highlighting how alignment among local philanthropy can strengthen advocacy, support movement partners, and make more effective use of limited resources. Participants discussed how collaboration requires intentional relationship-building, shared strategy, and a willingness to move beyond individual institutional priorities. In a political environment where opportunities for change often emerge at the state and local level, the conversation emphasized that funders cannot work in isolation and that durable progress depends on sustained coordination across regions, issue areas, and sectors.

Speakers:

• Emily Krisciunas, Executive Director, Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness
• Michael Durham, Director of Networks, Funders Together for Housing Justice (moderator)

Resources:

• What We Cannot Do Alone: Assembling Regional Funder Networks for Housing Justice: case studies and webinar recording
• If you're interested in mobilizing funders in your local community toward an aligned strategy on housing justice, contact Michael Durham.

10:15am PT

Spotlight #2

From Defense to Offense: Philanthropy’s Role in Advancing Housing Justice Policy Under Contested Democracy 

This session invited funders to reflect on what it means to move from reacting to harmful policies toward advancing proactive housing justice agendas. Lauren Bennett and Elisa Harrigan framed the current moment as one marked by increasing criminalization, threats to the social safety net, and democratic backsliding, requiring philanthropy to take a more active role in supporting advocacy and organizing. Participants explored how funders can provide cover, resources, and long-term support for policy work, even when the political landscape feels uncertain. The discussion emphasized that protecting past gains is not enough, and that philanthropy has a responsibility to invest in bold strategies that expand housing stability, strengthen community power, and challenge the systems that produce homelessness in the first place.

Speakers:

• Lauren Bennett, Chief of External Affairs, Funders Together for Housing Justice (moderator)
• Elisa Harrigan, Policy Strategist, Fund for Housing and Opportunity

Resources:

• Block & Build: A Framework for Housing Justice and Philanthropy
• HUD Mixed status public comment sign-on
• Information as Civic Infrastructure—and How Philanthropy Can Support the Ecosystem

2:15pm PT

Spotlight #3

Empowering Communities: Funders' Role in Housing Justice and Democracy  

This conversation explored the connections between housing justice, civic participation, and the health of democracy. Angie Jean-Marie encouraged funders to think about housing stability not only as a social issue, but as one deeply tied to voting rights, community power, and the ability of people to shape decisions that affect their lives. Participants discussed how philanthropic investments in civic engagement, voter participation, and community leadership can strengthen the conditions needed for housing justice to advance. In a time when democratic institutions are under strain, the session highlighted the role philanthropy can play in supporting efforts that expand participation, protect rights, and ensure that those most impacted by housing instability have a voice in the policies that shape their communities.

Speakers:

• Angie Jean-Marie, Consultant, Philanthropy for Voter Engagement  

Resources:

• Building Out a Voter Engagement Grants Program
• Presentation

3:30pm PT

Workshop

Who Decides? Civic Assemblies and the Future of Housing Justice 

In this interactive workshop, Roshan Bliss and Kevin O’Neil introduced participants to civic assemblies as a model for expanding democratic participation in housing and policy decisions. Drawing on real-world examples, the session explored how structured deliberation can bring residents, advocates, and decision-makers together to develop solutions grounded in lived experience. Participants reflected on how traditional decision-making processes often exclude the people most affected by housing instability, and how philanthropy can support approaches that widen the circle of who gets to participate. The conversation encouraged funders to think about their role not only as grantmakers, but as partners in building more inclusive and accountable systems that share power more broadly.

Speakers:

• Roshan Bliss, Founder and Principal, Bliss Collaborations  
• Kevin O’Neil, Associate Director, Rockefeller Foundation  
• Michael Durham, Director of Networks, Funders Together for Housing Justice (moderator)

Resources:

• Deschutes Assembly Case Studies
• Exploring An Innovative Approach to Democratic Governance: A Funder’s Guide to Citizens’ Assemblies

8:45am PT

Spotlight #4

Preventing Homelessness through Rent Control: Philanthropy’s Opportunity  

This session focused on prevention as a core strategy for ending homelessness, with a particular emphasis on rent control as a tool for preserving affordability and keeping people housed. Will Dominie discussed how policy choices that stabilize housing costs can reduce displacement and prevent people from entering the homelessness system in the first place. Participants considered the political challenges surrounding rent control, as well as the opportunities for philanthropy to support research, advocacy, and public education efforts that build broader support for prevention-focused policies. The conversation underscored that ending homelessness requires not only responding to crisis, but investing in the structural changes that make housing stability possible.

Speakers:

• Will Dominie, Housing Justice Program Director, Health in Partnership

Resources:

• The Health Benefits of Rent Control
• The Root Cause Test
• Presentation

9:45am PT

Collaborative Strategy Lab

Co-Leading Through Challenges: A Case Lab for Funders and Partners