Federal funding cuts and policy shifts have upended equitable development work across the country. As traditional funding streams shrink, community leaders and local policymakers have been left to absorb the impact.

In this plenary, hear from philanthropic leaders who stayed invested in local revitalization work when federal changes threatened progress. Rather than stepping back, these funders leaned in—moving capital faster and loosening restrictions on how grantees could use funds. Speakers will share how their foundations adjusted grantmaking during this period of financial and political volatility, along with their frameworks for pairing philanthropic capital with local policy tools to build more vibrant futures for neighborhoods.

You’ll walk away with real-world examples of funding strategies that held up under pressure and practical ideas for advancing similar approaches at home.