Finding Your People: How PEAK’s peer groups create spaces of belonging

“I’ve found my people!” was at the forefront of my mind when attending PEAK’s annual convening for the first time back in 2016. As a unique space that’s mostly tailored to the grants management function, this is a common saying for PEAK’s members and convening attendees.

In those less virtual days, many of us who traveled to the convening to be with hard-to-find peers discovered a home away from home. There was no school or official training for grants managers who may have fallen into this line of work. It was the philanthropy-supporting organizations like the Council on Foundations, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and PEAK that carved out a space for learning, sharing and evolving by creating a sense of belonging for all grantmaking professionals.

At the start of my career, I found making connections with other grantmakers crucial to my growth. PEAK membership offered me regional chapter meetups for networking and professional development and CONNECT, an invaluable virtual forum that did indeed connect me with peers across the nation.

But the need for connection isn’t limited to professional needs. When I first started in this field, it was no surprise that I could not find much diversity among funding institution staff. Philanthropy is a privileged space. Like many of my peers, I’ve long yearned for a sense of belonging as a Latinx Puerto Rican. Of particular interest to me were PEAK’s caucuses. These are safe spaces that foster a sense of connection with peers of shared cultural identities for professionals who might otherwise feel they don’t belong in the field of philanthropy.

Since PEAK launched its caucuses in 2021 along with our affinity groups and communities of practice, there is a wide range of spaces that provide opportunities for like-minded peers to intentionally and meaningfully connect within the philanthropic sector and PEAK’s network. Through these groups, we are building transformational relationships to advance our careers and drive change in philanthropy.

As PEAK’s peer group specialist, the value of these spaces shines when participants approach me after a session and say, “Thank you. I needed this.” For such a long time they have wanted to see and hear from others like themselves and, most of all, to feel seen and understood. These spaces offer tailored professional development, including networking, opportunities to connect with allies, and mentoring. Emerging and new grantmakers want to know how seasoned professionals found success, what they learned along the way, and how they found the path to thrive as they navigated spaces that don’t always feel welcoming. Many of PEAK’s peer groups are exploring and embracing professional wellness to help participants stay healthy, avoid burnout, and continue building a career in a sector they might otherwise leave.

Peer groups are led by volunteers who help to develop programming that builds and expands group participation. Much of a group’s success is due to its cochairs who’ve shared with me about what their experiences in these groups mean for them.

“I wanted a community and a safe space for us to talk about the challenges we face. It was so important for me to have a platform where Black people could show up and be themselves unapologetically. I felt joy when I started talking with the group. They understood me and I didn’t need to explain myself. The Black Caucus represents this forum where Black professionals can connect, and I hope it will stay that way in the future.  –Edberte Beauzile, Consultant, and former PEAK Black Caucus Cochair

“Intermediaries don’t really fit neatly into different PSO or infrastructure groups, which is a bummer because so many of us crave peer-to-peer learning. … It creates a real connection with peers, which also shows up when the same people pop up in other forums. –Jen Bokoff, Director of Development, Disability Rights Fund, and PEAK Intermediaries Affinity Group Cochair

The Latinx Caucus provides a sense of belonging and the knowledge that we’re in a safe space where we can have some understanding of where we’re all coming from and the challenges and experiences that we’ve all likely faced. Having that sense of belonging and being able to build upon that in philanthropy is amazing. –Rachel Gonzales, Senior Grants Management Associate, Walton Family Foundation, and PEAK Latinx Caucus Cochair

PEAK has always deeply valued its member-driven spaces, and it’s been exciting to see these groups thrive—either through CONNECT discussions or virtual events where members can network, learn, and share with one another in ways that lay a strong foundation for evolving the sector.

Image: Rafael Torres takes a selfie with members of PEAK’s Latinx Caucus at PEAK2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo by Rafael Torres.