“The biggest lesson has been the importance and the value of investing in the infrastructure of those who are movement builders for social justice and health justice in this nation.” On the eve of his retirement at the end of the month, Dr. Robert K. Ross, President and CEO of the California Endowment, talks about his inspirational career as a public health advocate, and the role philanthropy can play in promoting equity, in this piece for the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

For Black Philanthropy Month, we are celebrating the Black philanthropic leaders we have the privilege of partnering with.

We are also proud to call Grantmakers for Girls of Color (G4GC) a longtime partner, and to work with President and CEO Dr. Monique Couvson, a true visionary in the field. Dr. Couvson recently spoke with Nonprofit Quarterly about what led her into philanthropy, how her positionality as a Black woman informs her work, and why it is critical for more resources to be allocated toward girls and gender-expansive youth of color. Check our social media for weekly recognitions of the Black philanthropy leaders who are transforming the sector and read Dr. Couvson’s interview here.

ICYMI – check out another leader in the Black philanthropy sector, Ludovic Blain, Executive Director of California Donor Table (CDT) discussing the upcoming election, progressive candidates on the ballot, and criminal justice reform in California with Michael Gomez Daly, Senior Political Strategist for CDT, on the Everyday Injustice Podcast with Vanguard News Group.

This week, The California Endowment released their 2024 annual report, which describes the work they support and their partners. The report also details the Movement Innovation Collaborative (MIC), a first-of-its-scale effort to amplify and accelerate the field of power-building through a new intergenerational, organizer-led model. We had the honor of working with the founding leaders of MIC to launch the Initiative – helping develop their website, messaging, a plan for launch, conducting media outreach, and promoting the initiative via social media and email.

The California Grassroots Democracy Coalition continues to push for state lawmakers to take action by passing the California New Motor Voter Program (SB 299), a bill that would automatically register individuals who are eligible to vote when they submit documents to the DMV for a license or otherwise. We supported members of the coalition in placing op-eds  on eliminating barriers to voting in CalMatters, Times of San Diego, and this letter to the editor in Fresno Bee/AOL.