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Our field is ever-changing, and so are we: Here's what we're doing to better serve you.
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Pardon our dust—we are renovating our strategy


In recent years, we have grown in our role as a knowledge network to meet the changing needs of members and the larger funding and media communities. To better serve the developing landscape and both our current and future members, we are engaging in a strategic planning process with Boost Social Sector Consulting, an independent consulting firm. In the next week, we will be sending out a survey to gather perspectives from our networks, as well as from the funding community more generally. Results will remain confidential. We urge you to participate in our survey to help us continue improving our contributions to the field. We are looking forward to hearing from all of you.

Two voices in philanthropy respond to acts of hate with reminders of love, kindness

In the wake of the horrific violence in Pittsburgh this past weekend, Grant Oliphant, President of The Heinz Endowments, penned an op-ed on The Heinz Endowments' blog on what America must do to heal its intensifying sickness, offering that "love is the cure. Coming together in community is the cure. Embracing each other in all our differences as one people—that, most assuredly, is the cure. But love comes with accountability. It demands more and better of us than indifference and silence."
Read Grant's piece
MIF's Executive Director Vince Stehle writes in the Chronicle of Philanthropy that recent statistics on the rise in bullying in America's schools may offer some context for the rise in political violence. Those who are trying to process the events in Pittsburgh are drawing upon inspiration from Mister Rogers Neighborhood, as the house of worship is just a few blocks up the street from where the late Fred Rogers lived in real life. Stehle writes: "Always sensitive to the needs of children, Rogers appealed to adults: 'Please, think of the children first.' Decades from now, our children and grandchildren may ask us what we did to stop the escalation of violence in our society. Actually, if we listen carefully, they may be asking us already."
Read Vince's piece

Mark your calendars for these upcoming MIF events

SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS
Spreading the Truth: Here's How Science Can Combat Misinformation
Thursday, Nov. 15 // Noon-1 p.m. ET // Webinar 

We know that behavior science can be leveraged to curtail the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Join us for a webinar to learn how funders are trying to stop it. 

This event is open to funders and non-funders.
Register now
SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS
Training Scientists to Communicate More Effectively
Monday, Nov. 19 // Noon-1 p.m. ET // Webinar

Scientists play a crucial role in connecting science and scientific thinking to many audiences, and communications training can help scientists prepare for a myriad of interactions. Join us for a webinar about what the current science communication training landscape looks like, and learn what the efforts are to improve and expand it. 

This event is open to funders and non-funders.
Register now
ARTS & CULTURE // RACE & JUSTICE
The Jerome Project: Screening and Discussion with Internationally Renowned Artist Titus Kaphar
Tuesday, Nov. 20 // 5-6:30 p.m. ET // Philanthropy New York // New York, NY

Join Philanthropy New York, Grantmakers in the Arts and Media Impact Funders in a discussion and screening of Titus Kaphar’s short film, The Jerome Project, a multimedia investigation into the criminal justice system through the lens of the name "Jerome." The project began as Kaphar was researching his father's prison records, which led him to find the mugshots of many other African-American men who shared his father's first and last name. We invite you to learn how art and creative media can inform and inspire our philanthropic support of such issues as justice reform.

This is a closed, funders-only event.
Register now
JOURNALISM
The Urgency of the First Amendment: Holding on to Core Values in Crisis
Thursday, Nov. 29 // 11 a.m.-noon ET // Webinar

Philanthropy plays a critical role in maintaining First Amendment freedoms by supporting institutions and independent voices that strengthen a culture of free, democratic discourse. Join us for a discussion on threats and opportunities to the First Amendment, and how funders can help maintain those freedoms.

This is a closed, funders-only event.
Register now
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Re-imagining America's Public Square
Monday, Dec. 10 // Noon-1 p.m. ET // Webinar

America's public square—the institutions, networks, and spaces where Americans engage in the critical issues facing our democracy—is facing a paradigm shift. #Infogagement—a term that describes the recent collision of media, technology, and civic engagement—is fundamental to that shift. To respond, we must come together to re-envision and rebuild our public square so it serves all members of our democracy.

This is a closed, funders-only event.
Register now

3 takeaways from a community foundation investing in local journalism

In 2013, after the city of Detroit filed for bankruptcy, local media organizations struggled to stay afloat. Amid this turmoil, residents did not have access to high-quality journalism to meet their information needs. In response, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM)—which, at the time, did not fund journalism—established the Detroit Journalism Engagement Fund in partnership with the Knight Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

CFSEM has identified at least three key learnings from its local journalism investments.
Read more

Media Impact Funders has received a $200,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to identify and expand the number of community foundations, place-based foundations and other funders interested in supporting local news and information. Interested in talking with us? Let us know.

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Save the Date!

The 2019
Media Impact Forum


May 23, 2019
Philadelphia, PA

Funders, mark your calendars for our annual gathering that brings funders from across the country together with innovative media makers and analysts to share insights about the field’s most influential projects and trends. Join us for inspiring media presentations and dialogue, and the chance to network with your peers to deepen learning and spark collaboration.

Stay tuned for more details, and check out highlights and videos from our 2018 Media Impact Forum.
 
Register
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