For nearly a decade, CHANGE Philanthropy’s UNITY Summit has been a vital gathering for funders, organizers, and community leaders dedicated to building a more just and liberated future. EPIP staff, scholarship recipients, and community members have participated in many of these Summits, and while each year leaves a lasting impact, this year felt especially powerful.

The political climate, ongoing attacks on democracy and on immigrant, queer, and trans communities, and the fatigue of navigating yet another year of uncertainty all contributed to the weight in the air. 

Many of us arrived with notebooks full of questions like: How do we keep our communities at the center of this work? How do we sustain momentum when the world feels against us? How do we make sure our actions actually create lasting impact? 

The Summit embraced those questions fully. It didn’t shy away from the challenges facing the philanthropic sector; instead, it created a space to grapple with them together, learn from one another, strengthen our skills, and plan actionable steps for moving forward.

We found our people and refilled our cups. 

Highlights 

The EPIP team had a strong presence at the Summit, including four anchor points across the week. 

First, the team led a pre-conference workshop, Demystifying Philanthropy, tailored for first-time Summit attendees. Participants made new connections that they carried throughout the week, understood the different types of foundations present at the Summit, and received a primer on organizing at philanthropic conferences from EPIP champion, Mijo Lee. Mijo reminded us that there’s action-oriented and relationship-oriented organizing, and to be effective, we need to be doing both. 

Second, S. Gray, president and CEO, welcomed attendees to the stage for a plenary and shared one of their poems that has provided a grounding in times of grief and confusion.

“Let this fire not consume me, but refine me.
Let the weight of this work become muscle for what’s next.
Let me rest in the knowing that I am built different…
forged in grace,
tempered in truth,
and made for endurance.” 

The full poem and its context can be found on our blog here. 

Next, EPIP brought together 100 current and former members and long-time champions for our 25th anniversary celebration, off-site at The B-Suite, a Black-woman owned coworking space in downtown Minneapolis. Through storytelling from some of our EPIP champions, we debuted the 5 values that will undergird our new strategic framework launching in 2026: speaking truth to power (Cathy Garcia); creativity (Crys Middlestadt); collective care (Efrain Gutierrez); leaderful (Caitlin Duffy); and liberation (S. Gray).

Lastly, our team helped facilitate CHANGE Philanthropy’s session launching the Level-Up Campaign, a coalition campaign to get philanthropy to level up its giving in this urgent time. More will be featured about the campaign soon.

EPIP Member Reflections

“Unity Summit was a great reminder that I am called to do this work for this very moment. It was lovely to meet folks who have paved the way in my role previously and are continuing to make a change with ripple effects in the philanthropic space. One of those folks is S. Gray, who previously held my role and started the work at Washington Area Women's Foundation centering youth. I am also grateful for the folks in the "Forever Young: Creating Sustainable Youth-Led Spaces in Philanthropy" breakout session, who brought in young folks to facilitate that engaging breakout session.”

– Chika Onwuvuche

“As a first-time attendee and someone relatively new to philanthropy, this conference has been a comforting and discomforting experience. It has been comforting to see that there are so many people and organizations doing their best to respond to the communities they care for. Peer learning, new connections and deep conversations were invaluable during this time. On the other hand, it was discomforting to realize that I am not doing enough, that organizations are frozen and still waiting and seeing what will be next. And that discomfort makes me reflect about which actions I should take to be more aligned with my own values. I appreciate the whole experience while I continue reflecting on what my role is; and what actions I can, and I should take from now on.”

– Roxana Martinelli

“The Unity Summit has broadened my imagination for how philanthropy can work in partnership with state and local governments in pursuit of equity and justice. I'm grateful for the opportunity to hear from so many tremendous philanthropic leaders and advocates on the challenges and opportunities of this critical moment.”

– JD Lesada

“It was powerful to visit Minneapolis knowing folks who were part of the uprising beyond George Floyd's murder, and now hearing from local leaders about the history and existing realities of the area 5 years later. Local power is real. That was also reflected in the government voices that joined us and spoke about how they are standing up to tyranny. It was evident in the indigenous voices and earth-grounding importance of the surrounding landscape and gift of water. It is always the most energizing to connect and know we are part of a deep network of humans bound by love and committed to justice.”

– Aurora Colindres

We’re grateful to all those who showed up with honesty and openness, and who brought home insights that will shape our work moving forward. The Summit reminded us that even in times of uncertainty, community gives us direction.

We hope you’ll join us next year!

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