Dear Colleagues,
Before we get further into this year, I want to take a moment and highlight just a few key activities you engaged in with Philanthropy New York during 2018 – all with a focus on supporting the communities with which you each partner. There is much to be proud of from this past year of activities and, most of all, the shared dedication members demonstrate towards serving the public good.
Here are some highlights from 2018:
- PNY offered 277 programs and events to members. 137 were hosted at PNY. We continued to increase our partnerships with other PSOs to join together on programs, offered 84% more webinars for members for a total of 68 webinars.
- We continued our focus on racial equity programming with a new series, Equity Speakers, Exploring Racism in America. We were honored to welcome MacArthur Fellow Titus Kaphar and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi for two separate sessions exploring how racism shapes our policies, influences our institutions and constrains the impact philanthropy hopes to achieve. The series kicks off again this April with Color of Law Author Richard Rothstein.
- PNY took two formal policy positions. The first, endorsing the recommendations of the HSC Commission on Value-Based Care and its conclusion that New York State government should exert leadership in implementing those recommendations. And the second, urging Congress and the Administration to devote sufficient resources to the 2020 Census.
- Member-led PNY Working Groups and Committees continued their commitment to collaborating with other members, sharing information, and contributing to a strong PNY. For example, Funders for Gender Equity and the Committee for Equitable and Inclusive Philanthropy co-presented a screening of the documentary The Rape of Recy Taylor, a New York Times Critics' Pick, which details the efforts of the brave women who rallied for justice for survivors of sexual violence, and, thereby, initiated the Civil Rights Movement. Using this riveting history as inspiration, a panel featuring Tarana Burke who led funders in a discussion about the social change that could be achieved through the "me too" movement and how philanthropy can support and help shape such change.
- PNY and its Board welcomed a terrific new class of board members, 14 new member foundations and 3 new staffers!
As we look ahead, 2019 will be just as intensely engaging and, of course, PNY will be doing its work from our new home. We have much to bring you in this, our 40th year, and we look forward to welcoming you to our space and making announcements about new projects and programs throughout the year. We are also excited to continue to hear from you - your ideas and feedback about everything we do is core to the partnership between PNY and its members. Please keep sharing!
Most importantly, as we head into another year that will be, at least on the national stage, one of continuing turmoil, we at PNY both thank you for your ongoing support, not just of this organization, but of the larger sector and our shared commitment to develop a more equitable, sustainable and democratic society.
Best regards,
Ronna