Foundations and nonprofits create more resilient and impactful change when their strategies are shaped by the communities most harmed by inequities. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us invaluable lessons about the importance of community listening and nimble response. In the face of the social sector's recent turmoil, re-applying and building upon those lessons is more urgent than ever. This virtual session will explore how to carry forward best practices from the pandemic to meet today’s challenges. We’ll share strategies–including timely use cases–for responding to shifting community needs. Fellow funders and Listen4Good, a subject matter expert, will share about their successes, challenges, and best practices for centering community voice in grantmaking.

Maryland Philanthropy Network’s Health Funders Affinity Group is pleased to host Maryland Department of Health’s Deputy Secretary Perrie Briskin, Healthcare Financing and Medicaid Director, and Maryland Department of Human Services Assistant Secretary for Programs Larry Handerhan for a conversation on strategies the Departments are taking to mitigate effects of recent federal changes. It is estimated that 175,000 Marylanders are at risk of losing health insurance coverage, and loss of up to $27 million in Directed Payments is projected beginning in 2027 — a significant concern given how these funds support essential programs like Medicaid, AHEAD, and related transformation initiatives.