Why the grantmaking of the Zarrow Families Foundation is now in the hands of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Past Board Chairs, Bill Pitkin and Janice Elliott, and current Board Chair, Katie Hong chronicle the racial equity learning journey of Funders Together to End Homelessness from naming it as a strategic priority to making its Commitment to Racial Equity. 

The 2020 Census is less than a year away, but the work to ensure a fair and accurate count for our communities is far from over. Funders Together to End Homelessness, along with nearly thirty other philanthropy serving organizations (PSOs) and funders, contributed to an amicus curiae brief to contest the proposed citizenship question...

Regardless of the topic, whenever I leave the flurry of work and family life for three days to attend a funder network meeting, I can’t help but find myself wondering “Will it be worth it?” It was much easier to embrace this risk after learning that the 2019 Funders Forum would be...

“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.” - The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Most members of Funders Together to End Homelessness represent institutional philanthropy -- private, endowed foundations; community foundations; corporations; or United Ways.  Yet the vast majority of charitable donations in the U.S. come from individuals and it has been a goal of Funders Together for a number of years to increase membership among individual...

Over the past year, we have seen new proposals that threaten to further reduce access to affordable housing for the lowest income people, including austere budgets and cuts to housing benefits that help struggling families make ends meet. However, with the support of philanthropy, advocates across the country have been able to push back against...

Lauren Samblanet, FTEH Program and Membership Coordinator, reflects on key takeaways for philanthropy from the 2018 True Colors Fund Summit in October.

At the 2018 Funder Forum, attendees explored what it took to build a successful funder network and how a network can be beneficial in advancing the movement to prevent and end homelessness.

At the 2018 Funders Forum, we dove into learning about nation-wide prevention models and pilot programs being launched in communities taking the next step in homelessness prevention.

Passion. Understanding. Curiosity. Intellect. It was all happening in one room during the 2018 Funders Forum. 

On February 7 and 8, the Racial Equity and Homelessness Summit convened to address the connection between racial inequity and homelessness with attendees from across the country.

Kollin Min, Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who co-sponsored the convening with the Raikes Foundation, recaps the highlights of the...

Welcome to our two newest board members: Susan Bass Roberts of the Pohlad Family Foundation and Bill Major of Zarrow Family Foundations!

On Wednesday, January 17, Funders Together hosted a webinar with our national partners around what’s been happening with policy and budget issues at the federal level.

I was recently asked what was the most meaningful part of my work with Funders Together. Without hesitation, I answered with what I reflect on daily: I am blessed to be among people who tirelessly work for their community, our country, and, most importantly, people they may never meet; because they believe ending homelessness is imperative to our humanity. That...

It's not too late to join Funders Together's newest community of practice focused on employment and homelessness.

The debate about tax reform is heating up, as the House and Senate have each introduced their own versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act this month. The House voted on its bill two weeks ago, and a vote is anticipated in the Senate this week.

The month of November is a unique time to reflect on the many things we at the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) have to be thankful for, including the military service of millions of veterans and active duty, guard and reserve servicemembers.

Researchers from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago have released Missed Opportunities: Youth Homelessness in America, a summary of findings from their groundbreaking, multi-component study, Voices of Youth Count, on the extent and nature of youth homelessness in America.

On Thursday, September 14, Funders Together hosted a webinar focused on what’s new with the federal budget and how it affects funding for homelessness and related programs.

“How should we respond?” Funders Together CEO, Amanda Andere, asks the question of philanthropy in light of the recent events in both Charlottesville and Texas.

What does it mean for philanthropy to make a commitment to equity and its intersection with homelessness?

Another budget cycle is upon us, and philanthropy's involvement in understanding the budget process and how to be participate in the budget debate is key to ensuring programs that work to prevent and end homelessness remain adequately funded. Steve Berg, Vice President for Programs and Policy at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Martha...

Amanda Andere reflects on her past year as Funders Together CEO and the vision for the future of the organization and the collective work to prevent and end homelessness.

The move to a virtual environment puts Funders Together in a position to better serve philanthropy in the work to prevent and end homelessness. Read on to see why we made this move and where we are!

A statement from Funders Together to End Homelessness on Dr. Ben Carson's confirmation as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

What started as as pilot program through funding from the Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, Secure Jobs thrived through a systems change approach facilitated through public-private partnerships.

We are excited to welcome our newest board member, Kollin Min!

Completing its fifth year of funding, the Home For Good Funders Collaborative evaluation outlines lessons learned and next steps for the Los Angeles County collaborative.

Ann Sewill, Vice President of Housing & Economic Opportunity at the California Community Foundation, explains the Foundation's recent advocacy work around Los Angeles's Proposition HHH and the outcome of this support from a public-private coalition.

The past year has presented great opportunities and challenges for both philanthropy and the work to prevent and end homelessness. Funders Together Board Chair, Bill Pitkin of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, reflects on 2016 and where we are heading as we look to 2017 and beyond.

On the heels of the launch of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty's Housing Not Handcuffs campaign, Maria Foscarinis explores how the criminalization of homelessness affects efforts to end and prevent it and the important role philanthropy can play in the fight against it. 

Funders Together CEO, Amanda Andere, reflects on the mission and work of philanthropy in this post-election phase and what it means to move forward as a collective group as we all work to prevent and end homelessness under a new administration.

Three communities across the nation – Los Angeles, Austin and Cleveland – are currently amid the nation’s first 100-Day Challenge to end youth homelessness. Through these challenges, initiated by A Way Home America (AWHA), philanthropy’s essential role as conveners in our communities and across the nation is clear. Through this work, we continue to learn much...

As our country transitions to a new presidential Administration, Funders Together to End Homelessness is committed to providing you with resources around the upcoming change. Our Policy Priorities for the Next Administration and our blog will be updated to keep you informed about FTEH’s work during this transition. In addition to resources, we...

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Why We Must Address Racial Inequity In Our Efforts To End Homelessness

Oct 18, 2016

Why is Funders Together to End Homelessness addressing racial inequity? Our CEO, Amanda Andere, explains how philanthropy's involvement in focusing on the structural issues that cause racial inequity can create a path to truly making sure homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time.

Imagine yourself a single parent without a job, determined to lift your young family out of the misery of homelessness and into the security of stable housing. You need to work – and you want to work – but your first priority, understandably, is finding a place for your family to live.

Each year, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty hosts a National Forum on the Human Right to Housing. This year’s Forum, held June 27, 2016, in Washington, D.C., focused on the intersection of criminal justice and housing policies and how they work together to perpetuate homelessness.  

Initial Learnings from Foundation for Youth Success

On June 23^rd, FTEH Board Member David Wertheimer spoke in Orlando, FL, at The Road Home Breakfast gathering of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness.  Still reeling from the shock of the deadly attack against the LGBTQ community at the Pulse nightclub that took 49 young lives and wounded 53 others, the city’s officials nonetheless...

The launch of Away Home America also kicks off the 100-Day Challenge to end youth homelessness, community by community, and yours can be a part of the movement.

Funders Together CEO, Amanda Andere, attended the White House Policy Briefing on Youth Homelessness held on June 3rd and walked away with some key action items in order to leverage the momentum of those partnering to end youth homelessness.

Members of Foundations for Youth Success (FYS) gathered in Minneapolis April 7th and 8th to learn about the inspiring work happening in the state to end youth homelessness. In this second post in our series, Casey Trupin of the Raikes Foundation reflects on how the convening strengthened his understanding of philanthropy's role in preventing and ending...

Members of Foundations for Youth Success (FYS) gathered in Minneapolis April 7th and 8th to learn about the inspiring work happening in the state to end youth homelessness. Angela D'Orazio of Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland came away from the convening inspired and armed with key takeaways to apply to her foundation's work to...

What would happen if we started focusing on housing those experiencing homelessness instead of criminalizing the individuals? Maria Foscarinis of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty examines the moral and financial cost of the criminalization of people who have fallen into homelessness and how funders can help redirect policy towards housing instead.

Funders come in all shapes, sizes, and capacities. How can United Ways use their influence and capabilities within the community to end homelessness? 

After nearly 15 years, the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) is slated to start dispersing funds to states. How can philanthropy support and ensure the success of the program?

United Ways play a unique role in the community serving as funders and conveners, but even more, their value is highlighted through their deep relationship with local businesses through the workplace campaign fundraising model. This position provides an opportunity to play an important role in community’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness.

Funders Together CEO, Amanda Andere, shares why it is so important to use the powerful tool of influence and story telling to end homelessness.

Advocacy is a powerful tool to utilize in the work to end and prevent homelessness as it can educate, engage, and build essential relationships. And as funders, we can, and should, be a leading example. 

2015 has been a year of growth, collaboration, and change. Funders Together Board Chair, Bill Pitkin, takes a look back at the past year. 

What happens when cities start to declare homelessness as an "emergency"? Where do we go from here? Funders Together Board Member, David Wertheimer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation explores how these declarations can aid the fight to end and prevent homelessness. 

Just a few weeks ago, the Los Angeles chapter of Funders Together to End Homelessness held its quarterly meeting to discuss the role of advocacy in moving the needle toward ending homelessness. The big question at the meeting: What elements of a successful advocacy campaign can philanthropy support to make greater...

Youth homelessness is a community-wide issue that demands a community-wide response. Read about what Katie Hong of the Raikes Foundation took away from the most recent Foundations for Youth Success convening in Toronto.

Veteran homelessness is on the decline and ending it can be accomplished, but private funding is needed to fill the gaps that currently exist in programs and services. Will philanthropy answer the call?

Funders Together Los Angeles hosted a panel discussion to examine traditional workforce models, the current role social enterprises play in employing LA’s homeless and formerly homeless communities, and new opportunities in the field.

As we've been learning about the many different crises that can catapult a family into homelessness, we've developed a version 2.0 response to family homelessness. What is it?

How does strategic philanthropy differ from non-strategic philanthropy? What is the role of collaboration? The Episcopal Health Foundation shares its thinking.

With support from Funders Together Houston, The Frees Foundation, and The Simmons Foundation, the Houston Police Department created a Homeless Outreach Team and documented their efforts in a documentary called The Shepherds in Blue.

Beginning in 2009, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported a pilot program to prevent homelessness for survivors of domestic violence and their families. Here's what they learned.

One year into a new grantmaking initiative focused on women veterans, The Simmons Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston share their lessons learned and hope for the future.

Hint: stable housing, great schools, and strong communities are key pillars of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Pacific Northwest initiatives.

Philanthropy was a catalyst for the funding of the National Housing Trust Fund, which will increase access to housing for low-income families.