Meetings
Meetings are a centerpiece of the Network's work. Each year, the Network holds two meetings: a spring Washington Briefing, which provides an update on policy and politics that affect reproductive health and rights; and a fall Annual Meeting, which covers a broad range of topics of interest to funders in this field. Both meetings offer ample opportunities to learn from experts in the field and to confer and strategize with colleagues. In addition the Network often convenes meetings on timely topics, either in person or via conference call.
Working Groups
The Funders Network nurtures collaboration by convening "working groups" of funders with shared interests. Currently, we maintain 5 working groups on: international issues; US domestic issues; advancing the voices and perspectives of women of color in the reproductive rights movement, sexuality education, and population. The working groups meet in person and by telephone to exchange information about strategy and new initiatives. They also serve a co-learning function: members identify shared needs for information and charge the Network staff or consultants with compiling that information. Each working group has a dedicated listserv used by members to exchange information, ideas and to issue queries to the group.
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Listservs
The Funders Network hosts 6 listservs - a member list and five unmoderated discussion lists - one dedicated to each of our working groups. To learn more about our listservs and how to subscribe or post, please go to Listservs
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Grants Database
The Funders Network's grants database compiles, classifies and tracks nearly every grant made for population, reproductive health and rights work by US-based private foundations. The database is available online to Network members. Grants are classified by six "facets": issue addressed, strategy, population targeted, audience, geographic focus and type of support, providing an unparalleled source of information about funding trends in this field. The database allows members to generate data compilations, or "reports" for analysis of the raw information. The database provides information that can help funders avoid duplicative efforts and identify funding gaps. What's more, it can provide funders with instant contact information for those involved in particular strategies and issues, in both the funder and grantee arenas. And the database allows users to monitor funding increases and decreases in the field as a whole and in particular areas of interest.
Grantmaker Directory
The Funders Network publishes an annual directory of foundations that make grants in the field of population, reproductive health and rights. The directory includes contact information, some funding trends and a percentage breakdown of participating foundations' grantmaking in this area. This directory is available to members only and is usually distributed at our annual meeting.
Phone Briefings
The Funders Network provides regular phone briefings on cutting edge topics of interest to our members. These calls feature top resource people and support is provided by Funders Network staff and our communications infrastructure. Members may join a prearranged call or request a phone briefing around a topic of their choice. Some calls may be recorded and archived for access by members only. Members can submit topics for future phone briefings to info@fundersnet.org
Bulletin
The Funders Network Bulletin offers news about grantmaking developments in population, reproductive health and rights. The Bulletin profiles new initiatives undertaken by funders and reports on staff and program changes among our member foundations. Each quarterly issue includes one or more feature articles, written by members, on topics of interest.
Click here to submit a news item for our next issue
Click here to view past issues
Outreach and Engagement
The Funders Network's outreach and engagement project seeks to identify and reach potential new members and new sources of funding for population, reproductive health and rights. As part of that effort, the Network is working to raise the profile of our issues within the philanthropic community. Network staff are also cultivating a prospect list of foundations that might be interested in entering the field or increasing their contributions in this area.