EVOLVE Philanthropy is an informative and interactive knowledge series offering opportunities to learn, engage, and network with each other. The series explores philanthropy through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive lens, and fosters ways to become effectual agents of support in order to enrich the quality of life in our region. Each session will incorporate a mix of expert knowledge sharing and group discussion, but will be informational in nature. The series is open to donors, professional advisors, community members and partners, staff, and trustees of organizations interested and impacted by community foundation work.
We hope that you will find the series to be thought-provoking, inspirational, and meaningful.
Upcoming Sessions
Lights, Faith, Culture – Approaches to Generosity
Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Location: Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, 130 Pine St, Florence, MA 01062
Description: Join us for an inclusive, interactive and inspiring event exploring the intersection of faith and philanthropy across diverse belief systems. This unique gathering will bring together representation from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths to learn about each other’s approaches to generosity and community. Let’s come together, enjoy festive foods, and learn about how each of us approaches charitable giving and philanthropy.
Panelist:
Imam and Resident Scholar, Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts
Pastor, Florence Congregational Church, MA
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Springfield, MA
Beit Ahavah Synagogue of Greater Northampton, MA
Executive Director, Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, Florence, MA
Pastor and Assistant Director, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Late Institute of Faith and Giving, Indianapolis, IN
Featuring Artists: Fiddler Rachel Leader and accordionist/vocalist Ariel Shapiro
2024 Sessions
Visit regularly for announcements on 2024 sessions.
Celebrating the Arts: Sustaining ValleyCreates & Honoring Hispanic Heritage
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Featuring artists:
Bomba de Aqui, Michelle Falcón Fontánez, and NAGO
Remarks from Special Guest:
Martha Richards, President of WomenArts
Description: Join us for an evening of inspiration as we rejoice in the arts, share plans for sustaining ValleyCreates, and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The event will feature three ValleyCreates grantees who will immerse us in music, film and photography, and Puerto Rican folk dance.
Come meet the artists behind the work, learn of opportunities to celebrate local art and support our vibrant artistic community, and enjoy a delicious meal while mingling with fellow art enthusiasts.
Location: Holyoke Media, 1 Court Plaza, Holyoke, MA 01040
Professional Advisors Philanthropy Exchange
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 5pm to 7pm
Description: The Community Foundation invites financial planners, wealth managers, accountants, estate planners, and other professional advisors from around the Valley to join us for a networking event at Penthouse 650. We are excited to share new developments on the work the Community Foundation is doing, together with our donors and community partners, to make our region an even more vibrant place to live, work and play. We look forward to the opportunity to share how we can be a resource for serving your clients around their charitable giving, all for the good of our community. And we welcome the opportunity to help you build your own networks of professional advisors.
Location: Penthouse 650 at Tower Square, 1500 Main St., Springfield, MA
A Recognition of Lasting Leadership
Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 12pm – 2pm
Description: The Community Foundation hosted a Spring gathering of Legacy Society members, current and former Trustees for lunch, to connect, and hear highlights about our work.
Location: Penthouse 650 at Tower Square, 1500 Main St., Springfield, MA
View photos from the event:
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: What can Reparations Mean for a Community & What is the Role of Philanthropy?
Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 12pm to 2pm
Description: The Community Foundation will host a special EVOLVE Philanthropy session to honor Black History Month. Join us for a conversation recognizing the rich history of African-American contributions to the area, and the possibilities for a brighter, more just future. Central to any such conversation in Amherst is the topic of reparations for residents of African descent. We will explore the need to address the significant historical racial disparities, the current climate in town related to racial justice, and the possibilities for wealth redistribution in the coming years.
Format: Panel discussion with experts in African-American studies, philanthropy and reparations:
- Dr. Stefan Bradley, Amherst College Charles Hamilton Houston ’15 Professor of Black Studies and History
- Kimberly Dumpson, UMass Amherst Foundation Vice President, Advancement and presenter of “Between My Ancestors and Me: The Gift And Power of Intergenerational Storytelling.”
- Michele Miller, Former Town Councilor and Co-chair of Amherst’s African Heritage Reparation Assembly
- Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, UMass Amherst Professor of African-American Studies, Treasurer of the National Council for Black Studies and member of the African Heritage Reparation Assembly
Featuring a special performance by singer- songwriter, Pamela Means.
Location: White Lion Brewing Company, 24 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA
Lunch will be provided.
Resources:
- A Reparations Roadmap for Philanthropy, Stanford Social Innovation Review
- African Heritage Reparation Assembly Final Report
- Cities may be debating reparations, but here’s why most Americans oppose the idea, NPR
- During Black History Month, Philanthropy Should Focus on the Future, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Fund to support Reparations Stakeholders Authority of Evanston, Evanston Community Foundation
- How Reparations Could Improve Black Health and Wellbeing, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Museum of Natural History Closes Native Displays Amid New Federal Rules, The New York Times
- Philanthropy Must Play An Active Role in Reparations for Black People, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
- Philanthropic Reparations: Reckoning With the History of Wealth and Racial Capitalism, Stanford Social Innovation Review
- Philanthropy’s Role in Reparations and Building a Culture of Racial Repair, The Bridgespan Group
- Reparations could heal America, Vox
- Reparations is an Investment in the Future, The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s Newsletter
- The Cost of Inheritance, an America ReFramed special, PBS
- The Work of a Lifetime: Reparative Philanthropy, Relationships, Healing, and Joy, National Center for Family Philanthropy
- The politics of reparations: The path to racial equity requires more philanthropic investment, Philanthropy News Digest
- Traces of the Trade, POV, PBS
- Who should be eligible for reparations? That’s the big question in Amherst, GBH News
2023 Sessions
Previous evolve events
Dec. 12, 2023
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Paul Belsito, Executive Director, Davis Foundation and Nikki Burnett, Executive Director, Educare
Nov. 28, 2023
WHAT’S IN YOUR PIGGY BANK?
Jennifer Connolly, President of Junior Achievement and Terrell Joyner, Unity Financial & Insurance Group
Oct. 28, 2023
SPRINGFIELD MURAL BUS AND WALKING TOUR
Britt Ruhe, Director of Common Wealth Murals
Sept. 19, 2023
WESTERN MASS COMPLETES: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FUNDING
Becky Packard, Ph.D., Trustee and Professor and Christina Royal, Former President of HCC
Aug. 21, 2023
THE WINEY MARKET: CFWM’S INVESTMENT STRATEGY 101
Mauricia A. Geissler, Chair of the Investment Committee and Shannon Gurek, CFWM VP for Finance
July 26, 2023
EQUITABLE PHILANTHROPIC PRACTICES IN OUR WORK TOGETHER
Tanisha Arena, Executive Director, Arise for Social Justice
EVOLVE Philanthropy is the first knowledge and engagement series of its kind offered by the Community Foundation.
Please note these sessions are free to anyone interested in attending.