Seasonal Reflections, Birthdays, and Evolutions 

By Sai Bryant, Programs Associate 

I often view my organization as akin to a peer because of how close in age we are. In 2001, my first steps began to form a toddler’s waddle as EPIP’s founders created a space for young people attending the Council on Foundations’ annual conference. In 2011, I was in middle school and meeting my first crush as EPIP planned its first conference in Philadelphia. In 2023, I was holding my Bachelor's degree and looking for my first job as EPIP was hiring a Programs Associate. EPIP would be one of nearly a hundred organizations I applied to, and the fourth to grant me an interview. In this interview, I met my current supervisor, Elyse Gordon, EPIP’s Director of Programs. I closed the Zoom call, highly doubtful I would make it to the next round. 

Over a month after our national conference, EPIP 2026, and a week past my 27th birthday, I sit at my desk in reflection. The organization has come so far since I joined as Programs Associate in 2023. Not many people get to grow up alongside the organization they work for; this leaves me with the profound weight of our intertwining history. 

It’s difficult not to admire EPIP’s growth in the same way I have admired my own younger sibling, Vincent, who was also born in 2001. He succumbed to a battle with his mental health in 2023. I’ll always admire his ambition, wisdom, kindness, and humor. For me, it’s been three years at EPIP, and almost three years without my brother.

I was recently told that in your 20s, you do what you think you should be doing. In your 30s, you do more of what you want and grow confidence in who you are. In between this, I believe one must chisel out the consistency of their identity through 20+ years of perceived 'shoulds' and the reality of their experience. This is no small task. Yet we, like many of this emerging generation, are doing it with spunk and fortitude. 

The chiseling of EPIP’s identity is best witnessed by our recently launched strategic framework, complete with an updated mission, vision, and values. I refrain from using the word ‘new’ to describe this update, as I had the privilege of being in the room as we crafted the language with precision to reflect our history, future, and who EPIP is. I’ll leave you to imagine the debates on semantics, but know that they reflect the level of bold clarity and leadership EPIP holds. When I think of our values — Liberation, Collective Care, Leaderful, Adaptive Imagining, and Speaking Truth to Power — I believe the driver behind what makes EPIP who we are is Adaptive Imagining. 

After writing this, I will head off to my professional development course: an improv class that is bringing me so much joy, inspired by the creativity of EPIP’s board member, Brandi Collins-Calhoun, who spoke about using her fund for work-specific therapy during an EPIP 2026 plenary. When I mentioned the improv class to my supervisor during a check-in, I was surprised to see how readily she agreed that the class would be a great way to develop my public speaking muscles. I realized that this use of a PD fund would receive hesitation in other organizations. Yet that's what makes EPIP who we are: we understand this work is vast and complex, and it requires imaginative interventions. This is how we create brave and creative leaders who are willing to take risks.

Many of you are able to understand who EPIP is and our values through your presence in our spaces. Still, I’d like to summarize my reflection by telling you what I can no longer tell my brother. Do what fuels your spirit and brings you life. If that’s too easy, make it so others can do what fuels their spirit and brings them life. And remember, I am deeply proud of you.  

With compassion,

Sai Bryant

EPIP Events

Support your team and new hires with Philanthropology!

Whether you've been in the philanthropic field three months or three years, you're probably asking yourself, how do I remain effective given all the change in our sector and government? Regardless of your role or geography, we know that in order to advance a philanthropic sector rooted in justice, equity, and liberation, you need foundational tools to execute your role and stay true to your values.

Now in its 5th year, Philanthropology™ is EPIP's signature curriculum that upends conventional philanthropy with an in-depth critical study of the sector’s history, context, and challenges through a social justice lens. The program has served hundreds of philanthropic practitioners over the years and is consistently refreshed to meet the moment. 

Join us for 9 hours of synchronous virtual sessions spread over several weeks. We’ll meet from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (PST) for three live modules: 

• Oct. 7 | Module 1: Philanthropy History, Ecosystem, and Evolution
• Oct. 21 | Module 2: Racial Equity and Equity Analysis in Grantmaking
• Nov. 5 | Module 3: Self-Advocacy and Personal Leadership

Tap into the wisdom within you

Continuing our investment in healing spaces for our members

In the kitchen of the midwife. In the garden of the herbalist. In the community that gathered around a new mother because their bodies knew it was right. This is folk sovereignty, and it is breathing in you right now.

Join us for an experiential practice space for emerging practitioners in philanthropy ready to trust what's moving through them. We will sit with the stories of Black midwives, Indigenous earth-tenders, herbalists and healers who understood that change itself is medicine, using collective singing, gentle movement, storytelling and deep rest to connect with the wisdom of your whispers.

This is part of our new member-only healing spaces, available to individual and institutional members. Join Chicago-based healing practitioner Sojourner Zenobia.

Play chess while others play checkers

Capacity-building. Trust-based philanthropy. General operating support. Words we've circled for years while the same problems sit there, unmoved. Real advocacy costs something, and it's time we stopped pretending otherwise.

Shaun Randolph brings fifteen-plus years of turning Wall Street's own tools — private equity, investment banking, public/private partnerships — into weapons for social good.

Already decided to push forward? Good. Let's play chess.

Your quarterly space to reconnect

Join EPIP for our quarterly member gathering, an exclusive space for members to connect, vibe, and deepen their networks. This gathering builds on our communities of practice model, offering identity-based skill building, healing practices, and peer coaching designed for emerging leaders.

Whether you're a regular in our communities of practice or a new member looking to connect, this space is for you.

Is your foundation ready for the AI era?

AI is reshaping the communities and causes grantmakers support, but many emerging practitioners lack the frameworks to make sense of its impact. Join EPIP and the National Center for AI, Philanthropy & Society for a webinar demystifying AI and offering a practical roadmap for funders. This session will be led by Iván Torres, founder of NCAIPS and a 20-year veteran of social change and philanthropic work.

Save the date!

Missed our Fall Member Gathering? Join us this winter, as the year winds down and a new one begins. Whether you're a regular in our communities of practice or brand new to the space, we'd love to see you there!

Chapter Events

Our Reading, Watching & Listening List

• Climate Cardinals' Climate Philanthropy Whitepaper
• Remembering Dolly Parton's philanthropic efforts
• An All-Hands on Deck Moment for LGBTQ+ Rights
• Black Women are Redefining Wealth. Is Philanthropy Ready to Invest Differently?
• Reading List: Liberatory Philanthropy

Job Board 

Looking for a new opportunity?

View highlighted job opportunities from our Institutional Member and partner organizations below, and check our Job Board for more opportunities from around the country. 

• Associate Program Officer | Baltimore Children and Youth Fund, Inc. | Baltimore, MD
• Program Associate, Climate & Clean Energy | Heising-Simons Foundation | San Francisco, CA
• Philanthropic Impact Advisor | California Community Foundation | Los Angeles, CA
• Senior Donor Services Associate | Proteus Fund | Remote
• Associate, Operations | Council on Foundations | Washington, DC

Would you like to post a job opening at your organization to the EPIP Job Board? Submit a job post here.

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