Events

Annual Learning & Action Forum:

We look forward to seeing you at our 10th Annual Learning & Action Forum in Pittsburgh, PA on May 19-20, 2026!  Registration and details coming in early 2026. 

Webinars:

CFON webinars are designed to be dialogue-oriented and interactive.  Recordings of most webinars are available to CFON members. Contact Amy Daly-Donovan for access to past webinars or to register for an upcoming event.

Thursday December 11 – 1-2pm ET

Frameworks Institute: The Culture Change Project

In this briefing, Clara Blustein Lindholm and Drew Volmert from Frameworks Institute will share research and insights from their Culture Change Project. Topics covered will include:

• How has the American public’s thinking about race, health, and the economy shifted in the last five years?
• How are people making sense of democracy and authoritarianism in this moment?
• And what does this all mean for our work to build a more equitable, inclusive world?

Thursday November 13 – 3-4pm ET

Building Deliberative Democracies

Join Jillian Youngblood, Executive Director of Civic Genius, to learn more about their programs and practices for true, equitable community engagement in civic and democratic processes, and how community foundations can leverage this knowledge and support these efforts.  Jillian will discuss opportunities like fun, community-wide workshops and democracy innovations that can help community members collaborate more effectively.  If you’ve ever wondered how we can get everyone civically engaged in their communities – not just the usual suspects – this session is for you.

Tuesday October 14, 2025 – 2-3pm ET

Examining Your Foundation’s Internal Systems with an Equity Lens

CFON’s NEON (Nexus for Equity + Opportunity Nationwide) cohort created this tool to examine and gain a deeper understanding of the internal systems changes needed to authentically engage in external systems change and equity work.  Co-leading the session is Pamela Ross, former VP at the Indianapolis Foundation and NEON cohort member, who says “It is often challenging to engage in the necessary conversations to ensure our institutional structures and systems do not hinder the impact we aim to achieve in our communities. For me and my team, this tool provided a helpful framework for candidly discussing organizational change, focusing on building desired outcomes without judgment.”

We’ll talk about how the RESSA came to be and some considerations for using it in your Foundation.  You’ll also have a chance to dip into the tool to assess your own foundation’s journey towards anti-racist, equitable systems and discuss your thoughts in breakout groups.

Wednesday July 9 – 2-3pm ET

Network Leadership & Impact

Join network leadership expert Dr. Jane Wei-Skillern for a session that will spark entirely new ways of thinking about and leading in collaborations.  Using a framework of four straightforward but counterintuitive principles, leaders can form and sustain vibrant and impactful networks.  The model Jane will present grew out of more than two decades of field research. This interactive session will offer participants an opportunity to examine their collaborative experiences from a new perspective, and will equip them with the network mindsets, tools, and strategies that can greatly increase the social impact of their work.

Activities

Cohorts:

Housing Cohort:  A cohort of 10 community foundations, committed to housing solutions and strategies that align with equity and economic & social mobility goals, kicked off in May 2025 for a 12-month experience.  The cohort is facilitated by AJ Herrmann, Accelerator for America & National Housing Crisis Task Force.  Participating foundations include Chicago Community Trust, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Community Foundation for Greater Chattanooga, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Rhode Island Foundation, San Diego Foundation, St. Louis Community Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Yellowstone Club Community Foundation.

Community Impact Cohort: staff involved in community impact work are invited to join for dialogue with colleagues every other month on topics of interest to participants.  All are welcome!  For more information and to join this group, contact Amy Daly-Donovan.

Equitable Operations Cohort: CFON members have expressed interest in a cohort of administrative and operations folks who can meet to talk about how their roles support the foundation’s equity and opportunity work. Launching in 1st Quarter 2026.

Past Cohorts

Strategy Action Lab #3 (Housing) ran from April 2022-March 2023 and was facilitated by Allison Albee, Ground Works Consulting.  Participating foundations included Fremont Area Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Hawaii Community Foundation, Lincoln Community Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Oregon Community Foundation.

Strategy Action Lab #2 (Early Childhood Development) ran from  February 2020 to February 2022 and was facilitated by Amanda Szekely, Zero-To-Three.  Participating foundations include Innovia Foundation, Lincoln Community Foundation, Fremont Area Community Foundation and Southwest Initiative.

Strategy Action Lab #1 (Access to Good Jobs) concluded its two-year commitment in November 2020 and was facilitated by Lisa McGill. Participating foundations included New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Seattle Foundation, Adirondack Foundation, Community Foundation for Greater Chattanooga and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.