GEO 2022-2023 Annual Report
Message From the President & Board Chairs
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Across 2022 and 2023, the GEO community moved closer to realizing our shared vision of courageous grantmakers working in service of nonprofits and communities to create a just, connected and inclusive society where we can all thrive. These shifts in thought and practice — which do not happen overnight — require an ecosystem mindset, demand a commitment to cultivating collective genius and involve constant reimagining of the transformation that is possible for the philanthropic sector, not just what is practical or efficient.
These shifts were apparent at GEO’s 2022 National Conference, our first in-person gathering since the pandemic. As communities face threatening conditions, it is critical to acknowledge that philanthropy is not always collectively committed to social progress. Yet, as we listened to workshops and engaged with practitioners from across the sector, it was clear that more grantmakers are challenging traditional beliefs about what is possible — a position of courage that is long overdue for our field. The GEO community is aware of the practices that have historically held back communities and, in forums such as GEO’s National Conference, is coming together to establish a common understanding of our individual experiences.
2023 marked 25 years of our commitment to foundational practices of equitable grantmaking. While we continued the work of providing supportive and challenging spaces for grantmakers to grapple with pressing issues, we also made time for reflection and celebration. We went deep in our strategic planning process, which brought the benefit of even deeper connections with our members and broader community.
Over the last two years, the GEO staff helped to facilitate the safe return of in-person connections. GEO re-entered the field to deepen new and old relationships that, for too long, had been relegated to our computer screens. In Seattle, Washington, we reflected on how philanthropy-serving organizations had adapted during the pandemic to advance philanthropic culture and practice. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, we discussed how grantmakers can center communities in capacity-building efforts. From Arizona to Florida, Iowa to Indiana (and, of course, in the virtual panels and sessions that continue to expand access to all participants), we have tremendous gratitude for the opportunities to reconnect peers and host conversations on the issues that matter most for the GEO community.
In this report, you will see many examples that illustrate the ways GEO has continued to be a supportive, resource-rich space for grantmakers to advance social progress through transforming philanthropic culture and practice. We continue to extend our gratitude to the members, partners, supporters and staff who have committed their leadership through these two years. Though there is more work to be done, the prospect for an invigorated ecosystem for change is bright!
