State of the Sector: What Nonprofits Need from their Relationship with Funders

Supporting nonprofit organizational health by way of facilitating stronger partnerships between philanthropy and nonprofits is one of three priority actions that resulted from Maryland Philanthropy Network member conversations over the past year in the State of the Sector Workgroup. This July, Associated Black Charities’ 2024 Race Equity Summit elevated the experience of local organizations focused on racial equity for the Black community around equitable funding and how philanthropic efforts can be more inclusive and impactful. 

MPN members are invited to build on these conversations by joining this special program with Associated Black Charities and Baltimore area Black-focused nonprofit organizations around positive relationships in support of the organizational health of nonprofit organizations. 

Participants will: 

• learn about the difference between “Black-led” and “Black-focused/integrated” organizations and why it matters,  

• learn about trends in funding Black-focused nonprofits, systemic barriers to accessing funding, and the state of grantee-funder relationships, 

• explore the role of funders in promoting equitable and inclusive funding practices for greater impact, and 

• discuss solutions for strengthening grantee-funder relationships and to work better together in support of the organizational health of nonprofit organizations.  

The discussion will be facilitated by Danista Hunte, President and CEO of Maryland Philanthropy Network and Chrissy Thornton, President and CEO of Associated Black Charities. 

This program is for Maryland Philanthropy Network members and invited guests. In-person attendance is encouraged. Those who participated in MPN’s Philanthropies’ Racial Equity Journeys program and the State of the Sector Workgroup are encouraged to attend.  

The program is led by MPN’s racial equity team: Danista Hunte, Elisabeth Hyleck, and Shanetta Martin.