Last Chance: Final Cycle for PDF Scholarships for 2010

The deadline for the final cycle of Professional Development Fund (PDF) scholarships is right around the corner! Applications are due on June 18th by 5pm EST and can be downloaded from www.epip.org. As a former PDF scholarship recipient, I highly encourage people of color working in our local philanthropic community to take advantage of this opportunity. My PDF scholarship allowed me to attend the Chapter Leader Gathering in Detroit in 2009, which was one of the most useful professional experiences I have had.

More information from EPIP is below. Please contact Sophia Silao, Associate Director of EPIP with any questions.

• Have you always wanted to attend a national conference but couldn’t afford to go?
• Would you like to deepen your understanding of a specific topic and strengthen your skills as an effective grantmaker?
• Are you looking to connect with other young leaders of color in philanthropy?

EPIP is now accepting applications for the 2010 summer cycle of the Professional Development Fund (PDF).

Generously funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, EPIP’s Professional Development Fund awards young philanthropic leaders of color up to $1,000 to attend a conference, gathering or training of their choice. Since its inception, the PDF has awarded close to $56,000 to promising young leaders from different sectors of philanthropy -- from public, private and corporate foundations to foundation affinity groups and philanthropic support institutions. In turn, awardees attended conferences sponsored by such organizations as EPIP, the Council on Foundations, Neighborhood Funders Group and the Environmental Grantmakers Association.

• THANK you … for an incredible conference and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. On the plane ride back to NYC, I was so energized and inspired that I wrote up PAGES of notes, thoughts, take-aways, and to-dos! (Hoping to maintain this momentum for as long as possible.) (PDF awardee ’10)

PDF awardees are also invited to the PDF Gathering, a national convening focusing on skills development and the exploration of racial equity and social justice grantmaking.

• The connections are invaluable—really grounded me in this work and felt a part of a community. An empowering experience. (PDF awardee ’10)
  
  
• The gathering was an awakening experience. It helped me to figure out how to define my own path. (PDF awardee ’09)

Funding opportunity from the Next Generation Giving Project

Several months ago, we alerted the Seattle EPIP community to a great new opportunity from the Social Justice Fund NW and our local Resource Generation chapter- a project called the Next Generation Giving Project. Here's an exciting update and a potential new funding resource for you or for some of your grantees. Read on!

Early this year, we brought together a diverse cross-class group of 18 young people to move money for social change through fundraising and grantmaking. So far we’ve gotten to know each other, built our analysis and skills, and made personal pledges of financial support. We were all blown away by everyone’s generosity—these contributions added up to $90,000! Participants are just kicking off their fundraising efforts.

We’ve published articles about three of our meetings written by participants in our email Justice Journal. You can read them here, here and here.

Meanwhile, the group has decided to review proposals from a broad spectrum of social justice oriented community organizing groups throughout our region. Please help us spread the word! To find out more about the opportunity, visit the Apply for a Grant page on our website. Groups interested in applying should download the application here as well as review SJF's general grant guidelines here. The deadline for applications is July 8. For questions about the funding process contact Uma Rao.

There are many Seattle EPIP members who are participating in the Next Generation Giving Project and would love to share their experiences with you. Contact Zeke or Uma at the Social Justice Fund for more information, or ask about it at the upcoming June 10th happy hour at Wann Izakaya!