ReWork the Bay: 2025 Funder Community of Practice

is offering a Community of Practice (CofP) to funder partners as part of our work to create a liberated and equitable economic future. This experiential leadership development program and collaborative space will support philanthropy professionals to deepen their understanding of approaches to progress along the spectrum from transactional giving to strategic, transformative partnerships with community.

We envision a future where all workers have security, agency, a sense of belonging, and access to the tools, resources, and opportunities needed to actualize their full potential for their own well-being and that of the greater community.

ReWork the Bay creates a liberated and equitable economic future by transforming the roles workers, employers and the philanthropic sector play in economic and workforce development. We center and amplify the expertise of those most impacted by economic inequities to design, pilot and scale multi-sector systemic solutions responsive to current needs, while activating philanthropic partners to maximize their impact through transformative, strategic relationships.

About the 2025 Funder Community of Practice – Proximate Philanthropy

Increasingly, philanthropy is deepening its efforts to listen and engage community and leaders with lived experiences in foundation strategy and grantmaking. From participatory grantmaking and learning, to trust-based philanthropy, funders are experimenting with and incorporating practices based on the belief that the people closest to the challenges have the most valuable insights and ideas on what needs to change and how. At ReWork the Bay, we call this Proximate Philanthropy - when people with lived and earned experience are entrusted to deploy philanthropic capital.

In 2025, ReWork the Bay (ReWork) is sponsoring a funder Community of Practice (CofP) on Proximate Philanthropy as part of its work to create a liberated and equitable economic future. The Community of Practice is an opportunity for grantmakers to come together and deepen their knowledge and practice in advancing Proximate Philanthropy. Participants will share and learn with and from one another in an intentional, candid, and supportive space.

Through this CofP, participants will explore a range of participatory and Proximate Philanthropy approaches through the lens of racial capitalism, including the roles and relationships between foundation staff and leaders, community members, and grantee/organizational leaders

Community of Practice Participants

• The target audience is funders with an interest in and commitment to increasing their awareness and practice of Proximate Philanthropy.
• ReWork encourages teams of at least 2 individuals from each organization to sign up and attend together.
• We ask that you commit to participating in all of the sessions (see dates below). The CofP is designed for collective learning and meaning making. Your full participation in all the sessions and in the between-session exercises is key for a high-quality learning experience for you and your peers.
  Community of Practice Goals

Our hope is that through this journey, participating funders will be able to take new steps forward in practicing proximate philanthropy for an inclusive economy as a remedy to racial capitalism. Specifically, funders will:

1. Learn about a range of participatory and Proximate Philanthropy approaches, how it can be applied to their strategy and grantmaking practices, and how to support it.
2. Recognize why and how proximate philanthropy matters in advancing an inclusive economy.
3. Select a right-sized project or activity in your work that you can use to apply and further advance Proximate Philanthropy approaches in your foundation.

Community of Practice Approach

• The CoP facilitators will interview each participant in order to understand your interests, experience, and starting place to inform the CoP design and pace.
• Six 3-hour virtual CoP sessions that will include guest speakers, full group discussions, small group work, and peer coaching.
• Practice work between CoP sessions to integrate learning during the CoP and moving forward.

2025 Community of Practice Session Schedule

• Session 1: February 25th, 9:30am - 12:30pm
• Session 2: March 13th, 9:30am - 12:30pm
• Session 3: April 22nd, 9:30am - 12:30pm
• Session 4: May 20th, 9:30am - 12:30pm
• Session 5: June 17th, 9:30am - 12:30pm
  Registration and Cost

ReWork’s Community of Practice is free of charge for up to two (2) participants from each active ReWork member funder organization.

Space permitting, non-ReWork funders are invited to attend at a cost of $1,100 per person. This fee will be invoices prior to the commencement of the first session.

Host or Publisher ReWork the Bay