I am so grateful for PEAK in helping us create the AANHPI Caucus when these communities continue to experience anti-Asian hate incidents across the country. Many of our lived and professional experiences are relatable, so it’s comforting to have this space together.
Jina Song Freiberg, Senior Grants Manager
Katz Amsterdam Foundation
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Caucus Cochair
Organization Member
PEAK supported the creation of community and connection through an Intermediaries Affinity Group, which has increased collaboration to discuss the importance of intermediaries in the philanthropic landscape and created time and space for members to connect on emerging and foundational topics to strengthen their work.
Melissa Vassell, Grants Officer
Borealis Philanthropy
Intermediaries Affinity Group Cochair
Organization Member
I wanted to be a part of building a community and safe space for Black professionals in philanthropy. In this space, we feel supported, respected, and ultimately receive tools to help us thrive. The Black Caucus has given me a beautiful and brilliant group of friends to grow with, learn from, and walk with as we navigate our careers.
Shantelice White
Black Caucus Cochair
Sustaining Member
Cochairing a community dedicated to advancing DEI has offered me the opportunity to not only support my peers, but to also make meaningful connections and gain knowledge from them. Together, we created a safe space to practice and strengthen our ability to enter the work of operationalizing DEI in our organizations.
Tanisha Davis, Vice President of Grant Operations and Planning
Archstone Foundation
DEI Learning and Support Community Cochair
Sustaining Member
I can’t say how much I appreciate the community-building undertaken by PEAK by developing spaces like the Latinx Caucus, where fellow grantmakers can form support networks. Efforts like this play a critical role in building and maintaining a more diverse philanthropic sector.
Eusebio Díaz, Vice President of Strategy, Learning, and Communications
Health Forward Foundation
PEAK Board Member
Organization Member
Caucuses
Our caucuses provide a safe space where members can connect, speak freely, and be supported by one another. Each caucus is open to all members of the PEAK community who personally identify with the caucus’s identity. They will meet at least twice a year, with a goal to meet quarterly.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Caucus
A space where PEAK members who identify as AANHPI can connect, network, and support one another
- Elaine Mui, General Service Foundation, Cochair
- H.T. Masaki, Thousand Currents, Cochair
- Helen Wong, Borealis Philanthropy, Cochair
An affinity group for those identifying as Black, African American, or African
- Artisha Lawson, Greater Toledo Community Foundation, Steering Committee Member
- Ayoola Bandele, The Royal Society, Steering Committee Member
- Bryttnee Parris, Ford Foundation, Steering Committee Member
- Corey Murphy, Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Cochair
- Damion Wilson, POISE Foundation, Steering Committee Member
- Jaynell Ellis, Elbridge Stuart Foundation, Cochair
- Jeaiza Quiñones, Trellis Foundation, Cochair
- Kathleen Badejo, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Cochair
- Tiffany Morgan, The Global FoodBanking Network, Steering Committee Member
- Tiffany Oscar, The Washington Home, Steering Committee Member
- Traci Johnson, The Pittsburgh Foundation, Steering Committee Member
An affinity group for those identifying as Hispanic, Latino, Latina, or Latinx
- Adela Ruiz, Cochair
- Desiree Hammond, Women's Foundation for the State of Arizona, Cochair
- Jessica Anzaldua, Spencer Foundation, Cochair
- Rachel Gonzales, Walton Enterprises, Cochair
- Rachel Gonzales, Walton Enterprises, Cochair
This exploratory pilot group is a safe space for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary or gender nonconforming, queer, questioning, asexual, intersex and two-spirit (LGBTQ+)
- Elizabeth Powley, MacArthur Foundation, Cochair
- Jamie Melius, Mid Atlantic Arts, Cochair
- Kelsey Andersen, Arcus Foundation, Cochair
- Luc Athayde-Rizzaro, Ford Foundation, Cochair
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups provide space for members to connect, network, build skillsets, and share effective, equitable grantmaking practices with those who share similar roles and work in similar funding institutions.
Intermediaries Affinity Group
An affinity group for grants management professionals, open to all PEAK members, who work at intermediaries
- Ariel Santillan, Rural Democracy Initiative, Cochair
- Tashie A Sloley, Climate Breakthrough, Cochair
An affinity group, open to all PEAK members, for small staff foundations or smaller operating budget foundations
- Damion Wilson, POISE Foundation, Cochair
- Diane Grossman, Sheltering Arms Foundation, Cochair
- Stephanie G Richards, Morgan Family Foundation, Cochair
- Tiffany Oscar, The Washington Home, Cochair
- Whitney Howe, Stolte Family Foundation, Cochair
An affinity group for senior-level grants management leaders at high asset foundations, which provides a safe space for peer exchange and learning, supporting collaborative leadership and promoting more equitable practices in grants management. This facilitated group is supported by members of the Circle. Participation is exclusive to Organization Members with assets of at minimum $2 billion and an annual grants budget of at least $100 million.
Grants Management Peer Experience (GMPE)
An affinity group for the grants management teams of GMDC member organizations, which meets biannually to discuss topics chosen by its members. If you and your organization are eligible and interested in participating in the GMDC and GMPE, please info@peakgrantmaking.org.
Other ways to connect
Along with our peer groups and chapters, we are exploring additional ways to bring members together:
Forums will be utilized for groups that form organically based on shared interests. Forums will be housed on CONNECT, and PEAK will support events on topics of interest as they arise from Forum conversations.
We have current Forums on:
- Research
- International grantmaking
- Corporate grantmaking
- Consulting
- AI for grants managers
Forums may transition to Affinity Groups or Caucuses based on the availability of volunteer leadership, growth in member interest, and alignment with PEAK’s strategic goals. Please sign up for Forums by contacting our team at info@peakgrantmaking.org.
Townhalls will be hosted by PEAK for additional groups, periodically, throughout the year, to engage members in ways that are meaningful to them.