DFN and NYRAG to Host Funders Cultivation Event: Disability Funding for Non-Disability Funders

DFN is partnering with New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG) to host a funders cultivation event on November 13 at NYRAG’s offices. The event will be a panel organized by the Disabilities Funders Network (DFN) in cooperation with NYRAG and will discuss ways of expanding and improving mainstream grantmaker support for programs serving people with disabilities: “Disability Funding for Non-Disability Funders.”

If you work in any of the areas of poverty, race, health, education, employment, recidivism, at-risk youth, housing, seniors, culture and all of the many and varied communities that philanthropy serves, we need your help in overcoming the lack of awareness regarding disability’s relevance as a socioeconomic issue in the foundation and grantmaking world.

As a group, U.S. grantmakers don’t seem to be far ahead of the general public in understanding the scope of the nation’s challenges in ensuring this huge minority of Americans has an equal shot at pursuing the American dream. Many grantmakers, for example, do not ask whether people with disabilities would be able to participate in a program being considered for funding. Despite the pervasiveness of the issue — 20 percent of Americans, or one in five, have a disability. Compared to other minority groups, people with disabilities have the lowest rate of education and the highest rates of unemployment and poverty — but only approximately 3 percent of institutional philanthropy dollars goes to programs targeting or specifically including people with disabilities.

With the signing of the new United Nations Convention to Protect People with Disabilities, the disability rights movement is burgeoning. As the same time, U.S. philanthropy is growing: more than $6 trillion in private wealth will be donated over the next 50 years. As the richest nation in the world, we must do better; understanding of disability funding needs to be a high priority for all. With your help, we can continue to encourage more funding to flow to nonprofit groups addressing disability and to help funders see that disability is integral to all areas of grantmaking and to all aspects of society.

Thank you for allowing us to share how together we can bridge the gap between organized philanthropy and the disability community.

“Disability Funding for Non-Disability Funders”
Tuesday, November 13
9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
NYRAG offices: 79 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor
Food and beverages will be provided.

More information will be forthcoming but in the meantime, please e-mail khutchinson@disabilityfunders.org if you are interested in participating in this event.