State-sanctioned violence is increasing across the country. Black and Indigenous people, other people of color, and all people who live at the sharpest intersections of oppression bear the brunt of harm from cruel and authoritarian policies. Our communities are suffering.  

But as we defend against inhumane policies at all levels of government, we can’t lose sight of our long-term, generational visions for housing and racial justice, which extend beyond election cycles. We will not retreat from our values.  

Building on the work of our Foundations for Racial Equity (FRE) cohorts, Funders Together is excited to announce Foundations for Liberation, our new community of practice, to support philanthropy in deepening our collective analysis and mobilizing us for this political moment.  

Purpose & Objectives  

Purpose: To equip philanthropy to block authoritarian threats to housing and racial justice while we focus energy to build the conditions for collective liberation.

Objectives:    

• Practice change: Participants will make changes in their work as funders 
• Relationship-building: Participants will build a strong network of peers as accountability partners and collaborators 
• Field-building: Participants will engage in a collective action or activity to support the field 

Cost  

Registration fees pertain to the organization, not the individual representatives.

For FULL MEMBERS with annual grantmaking budgets for housing and homelessness:     

• Less than $1 million: $4,000
• Over $1 million: $6,000    

For BASIC and NON-MEMBERS with annual grantmaking budgets for housing and homelessness:     

• Less than $1 million: $7,500
• Over $1 million: $9,500    

Participation fees do not include the cost of travel to the three in-person convenings (locations to be determined). 

NOTE: if cost is the only barrier to your participation and you are otherwise ready to commit to the community of practice, please proceed with your application. Staff will negotiate a rate that works for you. United Way members of Funders Together are eligible a discount, contact us to learn more. 

Basic members who convert to full membership prior to enrollment in the community of practice are eligible for the full member participation rate. We encourage those considering this opportunity to explore the benefits of full membership to take advantage of the reduced rate. Learn more about Funders Together membership.  

We encourage teams of two to represent each participating organization, though we recognize capacity limitations may prohibit this. Participants may choose a “buddy” from a partner foundation instead, though separate registration fees apply.   

Resources to Support Your Application  

• Review the recording of our informational webinar for more background information and application instructions, including testimonials from previous community of practice participants. 
• Check out our practical case-making document, How to Convince Your Leadership to Support Participation in Foundations for Liberation. 
• Watch this two-minute video from Michael Durham on what liberation means to him and why you should apply to our community of practice. 

Timeline: 

Applications are now open now until October 31. We expect to select candidates by the end of November and commence virtual meetings with the new cohort in January 2026.  

Eligibility:  

We welcome applications from any funder* whose work relates to housing justice, including alumni of previous FRE cohorts. This community of practice is intended for funders with a solid understanding of racial justice and its connection to housing and homelessness. Participants’ grantmaking institutions should have a strong commitment to racial justice and individuals should bring in a personal commitment. 

What to Expect:  

Foundations for Liberation participants must commit to a two-year experience, including monthly Zoom meetings and three in-person convenings over the course of the community of practice.  

While the community of practice will include guest speakers and interactive educational opportunities, the distinct advantage of such a cohort is peer support and collaboration. Participants will take turns sharing their own experimentations toward housing and racial justice with generosity of spirit and open hearts, using a peer-learning technique we call “learning with wise friends.” We intend Foundations for Liberation to be an environment that embodies loving accountability and interconnectedness. 

Topics and Themes: 

Meetings will cover themes including but not limited to:  

• Understanding power and interrogating the role of philanthropy in progressive movements
• Block and Build frameworks for resisting authoritarianism applied to housing justice  
• How to pursue housing justice to end homelessness in connection to broader liberation movements 
• Intersecting forms of criminalization   
• The reform-to-transformation analysis from the Transformative Organizing Framework 
• Abolitionist theory and the role of philanthropy 
• An expansive and antiracist analysis of homelessness prevention 
• Afro-futurism and generational movement-building   
• Case-making and narrative work for housing and racial justice  
• De-commodified and social housing   
• Reparations and reparative philanthropy  

Note: during certain modules, participants will be welcomed to involve a grantee partner to engage in real-time accountability with movement leaders.   

Apply Now!  

Applications for the Foundations for Liberation cohort are now open and due close-of-business Friday, October 31. 

To preview the questions and draft your responses separately, download this Word document version. 

If you’d like to learn more before applying, reach out directly to Michael Durham and Rachelle Matthews with questions.

* 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.