Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 2pm ET / 1pm CT / 12pm MT / 11am PT / 10am AK 

“Social Housing” is approaching buzzword status. But what does it actually mean? How does it benefit people who are homeless tonight? And what role can philanthropy play in advancing it? Let’s tackle all these questions and more.  

Join Funders Together as we continue our journey to clarify what it means to hold “housing justice” as our north star—creating the conditions where literally everyone enjoys safe, stable housing by prioritizing those most impacted by structural racism and oppression—without abandoning people who are already unhoused.  

We’ll hear from organizers and developers from politically disparate climates, California and Tennessee, to stitch together a common vision for social housing. Then we will learn from the Common Counsel Foundation, a leader in social housing organizing and development, who will offer concrete pathways for philanthropy to engage.   

Objectives  

1. Understand the principles of social housing in the broader housing ecosystem and its connection to “housing justice.”   
2. Identify the effectiveness and limitations of social housing in the work of reducing homelessness  
3. Make the case for philanthropy to fund advocacy for decommodification and related interventions  
   

Speakers 

• Scarlett De Leon (she/her) | Executive Director | ACT-LA 
• Emily Duma (she/her) | Director, Housing Justice | Common Counsel Foundation
• Stephen Watts (he/him) | Cooperative Housing Developer | Southeast Center for Cooperative Development 
• Michael Durham (he/they) | Director of Networks | Funders Together for Housing Justice (moderator)  

Registration  

Please RSVP for this call using the button below. You will receive your unique Zoom link once a Funders Together staff person has approved your registration. You will receive your Zoom link directly from Zoom once you have been approved.  

Please note: Participation in Funders Together programming is limited to foundations, community foundations, grantmaking staff at United Ways, corporate giving programs, individual philanthropists, venture philanthropy and other non-traditional philanthropic giving entities, philanthropy-serving organizations, and members of Funders Together. Government funders and staff at organizations where grantmaking is not the primary function are not eligible to participate. Funders Together reserves the right to deny participation to individuals we believe do not meet participation eligibility criteria. If you have questions about your eligibility, please reach out to Rachelle A. Matthews,Director of Membership and Programs.    

Technology 

This funder call will take place via Zoom meetings. Registration will be open until May 18. If you do not receive your Zoom link or have technical issues logging into this call, please reach out to Michael Durham: [email protected]  

This call will last 75 minutes. 

Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 2pm ET / 1pm CT / 12pm MT / 11am PT / 10am AK 

Funders Together’s mission statement leads us to advance solutions that center people with lived expertise, a value mirrored by many of our members. But backing that up with action has proven less common. The field has yet to achieve meaningful partnerships with people with lived experience that avoid tokenization, binary thinking, and stereotypes. But resources have emerged to help us. 

Join this conversation to learn about the new Lived Experience Grove, an online compendium of resources to support authentic lived experience partnerships, which was developed through such partnerships themselves, alongside several Funders Together members, many of whom also participated in our communities of practice on racial equity. We’ll explore the tools most relevant for funders, showcase exemplary grantmakers on the subject, and host candid dialogue on pain points that continue to inhibit philanthropy.   

Objectives  

1. Demystify what it means to center people with lived experience  
2. Explore the resources in the Lived Experience Grove  
3. Crowdsource strategies to overcome obstacles to authentic lived experience partnerships  

Speakers 

• Josephine Pufpaff (she/her) | Owner-Worker, Housing Justice Collective  
• Sarah Hunter (she/her) | Owner-Worker, Housing Justice Collective
• Kevin Solarte (he/him) | Owner-Worker, Housing Justice Collective
• Rachelle Matthews (she/her) | Director of Membership and Programs| Funders Together for Housing Justice (moderator) 

Registration  

Please RSVP for this call using the button below. You will receive your unique Zoom link once a Funders Together staff person has approved your registration. You will receive your Zoom link directly from Zoom once you have been approved.  

Please note: Participation in Funders Together programming is limited to foundations, community foundations, grantmaking staff at United Ways, corporate giving programs, individual philanthropists, venture philanthropy and other non-traditional philanthropic giving entities, philanthropy-serving organizations, and members of Funders Together. Government funders and staff at organizations where grantmaking is not the primary function are not eligible to participate. Funders Together reserves the right to deny participation to individuals we believe do not meet participation eligibility criteria. If you have questions about your eligibility, please reach out to Rachelle A. Matthews (RAM), Director of Membership and Programs.    

Technology 

This funder call will take place via Zoom meetings. Registration will be open until May 20. If you do not receive your Zoom link or have technical issues logging into this call, please reach out to Rachelle A. Matthews.  

This call will last 60 minutes.  

Join Us in Seattle for the National Funder Summit on Youth Housing Stability 

Join Funders Together for Housing Justice and the Raikes Foundation in Seattle for the National Funder Summit on Youth Housing Stability, August 4–6, 2026. This national convening will bring together philanthropic colleagues from across the country committed to housing justice for youth and young adults to align on strategies to prevent and end youth homelessness, strengthen relationships across the field, and shape a proactive agenda for youth housing stability.
  
Philanthropy has helped drive meaningful progress in preventing youth homelessness — including a 40% reduction in Washington State and growing federal attention to prevention-focused approaches. At the same time, that progress is increasingly at risk due to federal funding cuts, harmful narratives, and policy shifts that threaten proven solutions.

This Summit is an opportunity for funders to come together to defend hard-won gains, learn from emerging prevention strategies, and recommit to ensuring every young person has the safe, stable housing they need to thrive.

What to Expect  

• Networking and relationship-building with philanthropy colleagues nationwide  
• Funder-to-funder education on emerging strategies that effectively prevent youth homelessness and promote wellbeing; opportunities to share your own success   
• Strategy sessions that compose near-term, collective policy priorities at the federal, state, and local levels 
• Exercises that develop tools for program officers to make the case internally on (re)committing to youth housing stability  
• Site visits with exemplary youth homelessness prevention programs in Seattle  

Registration & Logistics

Registration is open to staff and trustees at funder organizations, including public and private foundations, community foundations, United Ways, corporate giving programs, individual philanthropists, and philanthropy-serving organizations.

Funders working directly on youth homelessness, as well as those in adjacent systems supporting youth wellbeing, are encouraged to attend.

Registration Fees

• Full Members: $200
• Non-Members: $600
• Fees are waived for presenters and sponsors.

Additional Details

• The Seattle venue will be shared upon registration.
• Attendees are responsible for securing their own accommodations. There is no room block, but many have selected the nearby Sheraton. 
• Breakfast and lunch will be provided on Wednesday, August 5.

Schedule  

Please make your travel plans to arrive by 5pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, August 4. Plan your departure to leave no earlier than Thursday afternoon, August 6.  

• Tuesday, August 4: Welcome Party & Networking Reception  
• Wednesday, August 5: full day of programming, including:  
  • Plenary sessions with funder leaders  
  • TED-style talks and peer-led discussions on “bright spots” in the field  
  • Networking activities  
  • Exercises to develop collective policy priorities   
• Thursday, August 6: The Story of Washington State: visit with local providers and advocates to learn from Washington's progress on reducing youth homelessness 
  

Why Seattle?  

Washington State continues to model what’s possible for the rest of the country: their tangible success in reducing youth homelessness results from a robust ecosystem of nonprofit and public partners and unparalleled leadership and collaboration from philanthropy. Funders Together has partnered with the Raikes Foundation to co-host this event in Seattle not just because of their leadership within the Funders Network for Youth Success but because Seattle is home to such powerful allies in philanthropy, including Campion Advocacy Fund, Schultz Family Foundation, and more.  

Learn more about Washington’s progress in Funders Together’s 2024 webinar, Washington State Reduced Youth Homelessness 40% and You Can, Too.  

Sponsorship  

Thank you to our sponsors!

Funders Together and the Raikes Foundation seek additional support to ensure a robust event. Sponsorship opportunities will cover the welcome party, food and beverage, stipends for site visit hosts, and other expenses. Contact Michael Durham to learn more.