This month we’re thinking a lot about stories - who tells them, who is centered in them, and who benefits from them. At EPIP's recent PCN Regional event, the participants talked about “stock stories” - harmful false narratives that are repeated until they feel like truths - and the damage that they can do to marginalized communities whose real stories and voices are ignored.

• Some stock stories can be hidden in stories of victory, as noted in this powerful editorial from Out Magazine about the changing nature of Pride and the need to prioritize organizations and movements led by QTPOC (queer and trans people of color) within the LGBTQ+ community.
• Other stock stories can be those we tell within our own organizations that reinforce harmful stereotypes, as Itzbeth Menjívar notes in a blog post about racism within the social sector.

That's why we're thrilled to have resources that talk directly to and with marginalized communities and those that hold us accountable for what we do and how we work.

How can foundations create a culture that makes early- and mid-career philanthropy practitioners feel welcome and supported? Jennifer Oldham of The Healing Trust responds to the Dissonance & Disconnects report with Relationships Are Our Work, a blog post featuring three culture building practices that could help engage and retain employees, while EPIP member Alex Goldman shares his take on what it is like to be a newcomer to the sector in Shifting Philanthropy as a Praxis: 2019 Is Going to be Emergent.

New resources and reports are also abundant this month, with The Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity (PRE) and Grantmakers for Effective Organization (GEO) offering guides to incorporating racial justice and learning into foundations' work, while Women's Philanthropy Institute and Grantmakers in Health take a closer look at the funding landscape for women's foundations and health funders.

A Statement from the EPIP Board of Advisors:

After nearly four years, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) and our Executive Director, Tamir Novotny, have parted ways.

A former EPIP chapter leader, Tamir brought his belief in EPIP’s members and his commitment to social justice to advance EPIP’s work. EPIP’s shared accomplishments during his tenure include our 2017 strategic plan, which shifted EPIP’s central focus to advancing equity; the release of EPIP’s Dissonance & Disconnects report, which gave voice to the experiences of early- and mid-career practitioners and garnered the attention of the philanthropic sector; and the expansion of EPIP’s membership.

Ever read a book about philanthropy and wonder who you can call to discuss? This March, EPIP Philly launched our new quarterly book club to bring together EPIP Philly members and others in the world of philanthropy to discuss the hottest new philanthropic reads. We started with Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva, which came out this past October and gives a provocative look at the dysfunctional colonial dynamics in philanthropy. Haven’t read the book? Check out this article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review by Edgar Villanueva for an overview of the key concepts, including his seven steps towards healing.

Note: EPIP Philly’s next book club event is June 27th! We’ll be discussing White Fragility by Dr. Robin DiAngelo. RSVP here - we look forward to seeing you there!

As EPIP welcomes our new Advisory Board officers for 2019, we want to acknowledge the service and dedication of three board members who left the board in late 2018 - Dwayne Marshall, Nicholas Pelzer, and Regan Gruber Moffitt. Each has had a significant role in shaping who we are as an organization and has given their time, resources, and knowledge to help us succeed.

EPIP New York Says Goodbye to 2018! 

For the third year in a row, the EPIP NY community dedicated the holiday party to giving back to the community. This year's gift recipient was The Bowery Mission. All party attendees were required to bring items that could be donated to the homeless community in New York City.

EPIP Boston Steering Committee Member Molly Braden writes here about her experience as a graduate student at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis' (IUPUI) Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and her journey to becoming a Program Coordinator at Mott Philanthropic.

In education philanthropy, we share a collective sense of urgency to find the appropriate solutions to mitigate the achievement gap. Yet, we each concentrate our time on pursuing distinct but complementary missions. How many of us find ourselves wishing we could team up with other organizations to share collective learning and coordinate our efforts?

The EPIP-SD Giving Circle, formed in March 2018, is excited to announce its first grant to San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN). Our Giving Circle was designed to bring together emerging social change leaders interested in personally supporting San Diego nonprofits that are working toward equity and social justice in the region.