Slowing Down, Leaning In

A note from EPIP Director of Programs Elyse Gordon as she begins her sabbatical. 

In the ever-flowing cycles of time, here we are yet again: back-to-school season, the fall equinox, end-of-year preparations, late harvests, and gearing up for another election cycle. Fall is my favorite season. Transition and transformation are in the air. People, plants, and animals slow down and curl in toward reflection while relishing the last light of summer days. Perhaps it’s my upbringing speaking for me (not quite New England and not quite New York City — a forested blend somewhere in between). Fall is crisp, fresh, and abundant. Fall is a return. 

This autumn, after nearly six years running EPIP’s incredible programs team, I am so grateful to be taking a generous and regenerative break through our new sabbatical policy. One of the many ways we live into our value of collective care, the sabbatical policy is intended to allow staff to deeply rest, support creativity, and encourage growth and learning. People keep asking me where I am going to travel and whether I’ll escape Seattle’s gloomy fall by going to the beach. And, while I have at least one week planned for some sunshine, I will largely be staying in one place. Preparing for winter. Writing, dancing, and dreaming. As the season lends itself to reflection and returning inward, so shall I. 

And the time is right for EPIP to be launching this policy: a leaderful team allows the work to move forward without needing a director present to make every call. After almost four years of working in lockstep, the programs team is ready and able to steward our programming for the membership while I step away (and I can’t wait for them to be able to take sabbaticals of their own in the coming years!). We have an incredible slate of fall programming already built for you, including a virtual program about AI that was one of our most popular at the conference, and our signature Philanthropology program, designed and refreshed for new hires to the sector. 

My hope for our members this fall is to find a consistent through-line for your learning. One skill, theme, or group of people you’d like to dive deeper with. When the news and media cycles would ask us to get overwhelmed or distracted after three seconds of focus, the fall season invites us to be slower and more present. If you had one last goal on your list before the year wrapped up, what would it be and how can the EPIP community support you in meeting that goal? 

By the time this newsletter goes out, I will have already been on sabbatical for a few weeks — this letter serving as a time capsule, a portal, a stream of connection amidst rest. May we all find a bit more magic this season, as the days get darker and our nervous systems get tested again and again. I look forward to reconnecting in the new year with all of you.

EPIP Events

The AI era is here. Is your foundation ready?

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 on November 10 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.

Join our Winter Member Gathering!

Let’s gather on December 9 to connect and reflect 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 News

Our Reading, Watching & Listening List

• Black Women Are Redefining Wealth. Is Philanthropy Ready to Invest Differently?
• Misgivings podcast, hosted by Kindle Project’s Sadaf Rassoul Cameron and Adrianne Shafer
• Key Takeaways From Giving USA’s 2026 Report on 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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