The Funders Network (TFN) is pleased to accept applications for the 2027 cohort of its signature leadership program, PLACES (Professionals Learning About Community Equity and Sustainability).
TFN’s PLACES Fellowship is an eight-month transformational learning journey for individuals working in philanthropy or a grantmaking organization, who are dedicated to supporting historically marginalized and racialized communities most impacted by unjust policies and oppressive systems.
PLACES uses facilitated, experiential and peer learning, 1:1 coaching, self and group reflections to help leaders understand how systemic racism, colonialism and other systems of oppression are impacting marginalized communities. The Fellows explore real-time issues like displacement and economic divestment, environmental injustice, health disparities, mass incarceration, immigration criminalization, and more — asking difficult questions and reaching for uncomfortable truths.
Fellows have a broad range of philanthropic experience, represent diverse backgrounds and identities, and hail from across the United States and Canada. The program is designed to support grantmakers in embedding the values of racial equity and justice into their work and applying learned skills, knowledge, and practices into their grantmaking and community engagement efforts. In addition, PLACES fosters culturally integrated spaces where fellows are encouraged to lean into their individual values, purpose and identities, which will guide and inform their role as leaders.
DETAILS & DATES
PLACES applications must be submitted no later than September 28, 2026. Finalists will be invited for a 30-minute interview in November to further discuss their application. All applicants will be informed of the result of their application by the beginning of December.
Once selected, the PLACES cohort will meet four times during the 8-month fellowship. Dates and locations are subject to change at the discretion of The Funders Network. TFN is committed to fostering a welcoming and safe environment for all participants. Our safety and accessibility practices outline our efforts to enforce this commitment. Site visit locations will be shared with participants upon acceptance into the fellowship program:
- Orientation and Training: February 25, Virtual (day-long)
- Optional Pre-Conference Fellowship Launch: March 14, Oakland, CA
- Site visit 1: April 21-23
- Site Visit 2: June 23-25
- Site visit 3: September 8-10
- Site visit 4: November 3-5
In addition to place-based learning, there will be peer group calls and coaching along with access to leading experts from the field who serve as mentors to the program. It is expected that participants will participate in all meetings and site visits. A minimum of three are required to graduate from the program.
PLACES OBJECTIVES
As a result of participating in PLACES activities, fellows will have:
- Reimagined philanthropy's role in the movement to advance racial equity and justice;
- Learned directly from place-based community organizing, culture and movement leaders, from grassroots to philanthropy;
- Gained frameworks, tools, and practices that translate equity values into direct action, and ways to drive impact within their organization, the field of philanthropy and beyond;
- Understood how historic, systemic oppression continues to impact communities today and learn lessons from social justice movements;
- Leaned into their individual values, purpose and identities to guide and inform their role as a leader;
- Challenged biases and proximity to power to dismantle barriers for communities to access resources and engage with philanthropy.
EXPECTATIONS OF PARTICIPATING FELLOWS
TFN expects that fellows will be open to expanding their understanding of race, racialization, equity, diversity and inclusion, and using this expanded knowledge to influence how they approach grantmaking, and philanthropic practice;
TFN expects that, at the time of the first site visit, the fellow will have at least 12 months of philanthropic grantmaking experience;
TFN expects that the fellow will attend all PLACES site visits, participate in group calls and coaching sessions, and highly consider the TFN Conference and other learning opportunities offered by the Network;
TFN expects that the direct supervisor is committed to supporting the fellow’s professional development and work in advancing more equitable practices within the supporting organization or grantmaking portfolio. This support should include periodic discussions with the fellow regarding how PLACES is informing their philanthropic practice and how this could affect the organization. Upon acceptance into the program, each selected fellow will be asked to submit a letter of support from their direct supervisor or CEO with stated commitments;
TFN expects that once the PLACES Fellowship ends, Fellows will continue to stay engaged with PLACES or the larger TFN community through engagement opportunities such as working groups, issue-based steering committees, learning calls, or PLACES Alum Network activities.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
If selected to participate in the Fellowship, the participant must pay a fee of $1,500 for TFN members or $2,500 for Non-Members. Participation fees go directly to supporting the PLACES program, including but not limited to honorariums for non-funder community-based leaders we engage with throughout the fellowship site visits. The Network expects that the fellow’s employer will cover time for participation in the program, and any travel/lodging expenses incurred during the fellowship. Most meals are covered during the site visits, but meal purchases by participants can be expected at least once per visit. The average travel costs for fellows to participate varies based on the current market and geographic location of the participant. We encourage participating organizations to budget approximately $8,000, which should cover all travel and lodging for the year.
In an effort to ease some of the burden of costs incurred by the participants' organization, TFN (budget permitting) may make available up to two travel scholarships per site visit. This is done on a first come, first serve basis. Participating Fellows should notify Talissa Lahaliyed (places@fundersnetwork.org) as soon as possible to request support.