LEARNING QUESTIONS & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

Ninety-nine girlfriends is an adventure in both learning and grant-making. Our member education resources and activities allow members to learn more about our community and philanthropy, and discover new pathways to become engaged in making our community an excellent place for all.

Learning QUESTIONS YEAR BY YEAR

Each year, we pose a learning question that helps us plan small-group events, forums, and research. Below, you’ll find our learning questions over the years and a high-level review of what we’ve learned so far. Check out recordings or materials from past programs in the links below.

2024: HOW ARE EQUITY, POVERTY, AND SOCIAL MOBILITY RELATED, AND HOW CAN OUR PHILANTHROPY SUPPORT POSITIVE CHANGE?

We learned about poverty from expert panelists Juan Carlos Ordonez of Oregon Center for Public Policy,Carol Turner of The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, Noah Kone of Constructing Hope at our Discovery Forum and have small-group sessions scheduled to discuss racial legacy, difficult conversations, and facts and fallacies about homelessness.

We shared these additional resources mentioned before or during the event:

2023: HOW DO WE COLLABORATE AS COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN OUR REGION?

We built on our previous learning questions to explore the value of collaboration to address issues in our region. We began the year with Sheryl WuDunn discussing the book Tightrope. Our Discovery Forum featured representatives from organizations that have created positive impact on our region through collaboration. We moved on to small-group learning through Indian Country 101 Workshop.

2022: HOW CAN SYSTEMS CHANGE AND ADVOCACY ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY?

We began the year with Coty Raven Morris presenting Being Human Together. Then, our Discovery Forum featured nonprofit representatives from each of our five focus areas, who shared their experiences with systems change and advocacy.

Our “Let’s Learn More About” Series used small groups to round out our learning for the year.

2021: HOW DO WE EMBED RACIAL EQUITY IN ALL THAT WE DO?

Programs included a presentation by Stephanie Montgomery on "Deconstructing Racism", follow-up conversations based on the presentation, Conversation Circles that apply a racial equity lens to learn about specific community issues, a Discovery Forum with stories of how other grant makers are working on racial equity, and more.

2020: HOW CAN PHILANTHROPY INFLUENCE POLICY?

We started our journey of discovery about this question at our Discovery Forum featuring speakers describing how philanthropists and engaged community members like us can have an influence on public policy. Special thanks to Alejandro Queral, Kimberly Howard, and Sonia Worcel for sharing their expertise and experiences.

Also in 2020, our Spotlight Study Teams assembled for deep dive discovery into four topics of special interest to ninety-nine girlfriends. These topics surfaced in our 2019 member survey: (1) Safe homes for all, (2) Social-emotional wellness, (3) The natural world, and (4) Racial disparities.

COVID-19 social distancing provided an opportunity for us to showcase member expertise, passion and activism through a series of “Let’s Talk About…” programs featuring girlfriends who have stepped up to make a different on specific issues. Check these programs and links here.

2019: WHAT IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?

We shared tips and tools to become active and effective on nonprofit boards, or public boards or commissions. We piloted workshops to invite members to build leadership skills for use within ninety-nine girlfriends and/or the larger community.

Here are nonprofit board resources for you if you are thinking about joining a board or have just joined a board. Peruse our nonprofit board member resource materials here. This toolkit has lots of valuable tips for joining a nonprofit board, being a good board member and more.

We also went deep into learning more about the complex issues surrounding homelessness.

Learn more about homelessness here.

2018: WHAT IS PHILANTHROPY AND HOW DO WE FIT IN?

We introduced members to the basics, trends and hot topics in current US philanthropy and foundations. Environmental grant makers shared social justice perspectives in local grant making. At our discovery forum, participants experienced the challenge of selecting grantees through small group discussions. 

Find out more in this brief FAQ covering Philanthropy in a Nutshell.

2017: WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY?

We formed five study groups of members to learn more about local challenges and bright spots related to our five focus areas. These groups presented findings at our Discovery Forum. In addition, Chris Grumm led the group in an exploration of ways women give; using the Wiser Giving tools and presenting ideas related to how women use power and influence. Learn what we learned when we explored local realities re arts, education, environment, family/human services, health and wellness.

Read the Community Study Team reports:
Community Study Team Brief: Arts & Culture
Community Study Team Brief: Education & Lifelong Learning
Community Study Team Brief: Environment & Sustainability
Community Study Team Brief: Family & Human Services
Community Study Team Brief: Health & Wellness

2016: WHAT IS SOCIAL CHANGE?

We learned about the different ways nonprofits and other community-based initiatives tackle the gaps in our society through direct services, investing in people, and effecting systems change. Chris Grumm helped us explore how we individually and collectively prioritize areas to invest in. 

Take the Wiser Giving quizzes about your preferred style of giving and your priorities regarding investing in strategies for social change.