Event Description

Come and strategize with other water funders in Los Angeles Jan. 30-31!

With the billions of dollars flowing into water infrastructure, funders are overwhelmed by the amount of information coming at them. Funders need space for sense-making to generate ideas to overcome barriers, and strategize with other funders on how to collaborate and align to support a powerful ecosystem advancing water justice.

On the first day of our convening, we will dive deep with local water leaders in Los Angeles to learn from the work they have been doing for several years to equip frontline and under-resourced communities to access and influence water infrastructure project dollars.

On day two, we will give you the space you crave to brainstorm with your colleagues on the unique and strategic role that you, as a funder, can play in this moment. Our sessions will explore:

  • A deepened understanding of the national water ecosystem and how funders can cultivate coordination and cooperation among stakeholders as opposed to competition
  • Integrating bottom-up and top-down strategies to prioritize monies flowing to the communities that need them most
  • How to hold the tension of addressing both short-term needs of this moment as well as a long-term lens towards building community power and systems that work for the future
  • The limitations of the current water infrastructure financing system and opportunities to use this surge of federal money to unlock new potential rather than anchor current systems that are ineffective

Agenda Overview

View the detailed agenda HERE

Sunday, Jan. 29

  • 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Optional Dinner for Funders who arrive early

Monday, Jan. 30

  • 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast and Networking
  • 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. Welcome and Reconnection
  • 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. Grounding Conversation on Los Angeles’s water challenges and opportunities
  • 10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Break 
  • 11:00 – 3:30 p.m. Learning Exchange with Field Leaders
  • 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Break
  • 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Reception & Keynote Speaker
  • 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Break, walk to local dinner spot
  • 5:30 p.m. Dinner, location TBD

Tuesday, Jan. 31

  • 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast and Networking
  • 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Quick Day 1 Debrief
  • 9:00 – 10:45 a.m. Session One. The National Ecosystem: Accessing infrastructure funding and removing barriers through technical assistance, advocacy and finance
  • 10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Break
  • 11:00 – 12:15 p.m. Session Two. Equity in Place: How funders can support disadvantaged and frontline communities to access and influence public investments in their states and ensure equitable implementation
  • 12:15 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch 
  • 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Session Three. The Long Game: How funders and their partners are looking to build leadership and systems that work for 10, 20 and 50 years down the road
  • 2:00 – 2:15 p.m. Reflections on how we can work together as a network moving forward
  • 2:15 – 2:30 p.m. Closing Comments and Appreciations

Formal end of Urban Water Funder Convening

  • 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Optional second site visit and reception at Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park, a co-sponsored event with the Using Nature for Climate Resilience and Mitigation convening

View the detailed agenda HERE

Location & Lodging

The first day of our convening will be held at the DoubleTree, Little Tokyo, and the second day on the beautiful campus of The California Endowment in downtown Los Angeles.

The Funders Network will not be reserving a block of rooms for this meeting; however, we recommend the following hotels all located in downtown Los Angeles:

Health & Safety

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, The Funders Network is committed to implementing appropriate policies and taking necessary actions to create a safe and comfortable meeting environment, and to the extent possible, protect the health of everyone who attends or participates in TFN events.

TFN has adopted the following Health and Safety Protocols for all upcoming Network gatherings and events, including convenings of our working groups, PLACES Fellowship and Alumni Network, and TFN Board of Directors.

TFN reserves the right to implement additional measures to support a successful gathering and safeguard the health and safety of all individuals involved in Network events. TFN’s COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols apply to every person attending or participating in TFN events, including but not limited to, registered and unregistered attendees, speakers, and TFN staff, consultants and volunteers. TFN reserves the right to prohibit entry to any individual who fails to abide by these protocols, including providing required documentation.

Please view our Health and Safety Protocols HERE.

Thank you!

Thank you to our funder planning committee for their ideas, guidance, and assistance in planning this meeting:

We are looking forward to a terrific and inspiring meeting in Los Angeles and hope that you can join us!

Presented By

Related Events

View More