Meeting the Moment: A North Star Fund Podcast

Interviews with members of the extraordinary North Star Fund community--grantees, donors and our peers in philanthropy--about their work to end racism and inequity.

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Episodes

Episode 6 - Moving Money in Times of Crisis

Development Director Kofo Anifalaje interviews North Star Fund donor-advised fund holder Sarah Frank. Sarah has had a donor-advised fund (DAF) through North Star Fund for several years. Sarah made some donations during the pandemic that are unique to her situation, but has great insight to share for any donors interested in supporting community organizing. Kofo and Sarah talk about ways to be a responsible and accountable donor in these demanding times. Their conversation talks about how to move...

Dec 22, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Episode 5 - Funding Black-led Movements

In this episode, our deputy director Elz Cuya Jones talks with Nat Chioke Williams about our long shared history of challenging philanthropy to move money—in particular to Black-led movements. Elz and Nat talk frankly about the challenges we face working within the philanthropy system, and as leaders of institutions calling for a different type of commitment.

Dec 18, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Episode 4 - Organizing for a More Sustainable Hudson Valley

Our Hudson Valley Program Coordinator Gabriela Quintanilla interviews the Underground Center, one of our grantees doing some less conventional organizing. The Underground Center empowers people to create economic and social power through mutual aid efforts and interconnectedness with the land. And they do it with an awareness of the long, unsustainable relationship between New York City and the Hudson Valley.

Dec 11, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Episode 3 - Let's Talk Donor Organizing

In this episode, we meet Jillian White, North Star Fund’s donor organizer, who is also a longtime activist and community organizer. Jillian interviews 2020 Giving Project alum Marissa Finn Hersh. Jillian and Marissa have a lively conversation about raising money, giving money, power and how all these dynamics—and more—intersect when we're trying to move money into social justice movements.

Dec 04, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Episode 2 - Meet Our Grantmakers

In this episode, our program associate Leyana Dessauer interviews two members of our Community Funding Committee (CFC) who talk about their experiences as organizers and grantmakers over the first 18 months of the pandemic. These two grantmakers, Leah Obias and Rob Robinson, bring decades of organizing experience, and they also bring valuable insights from their national and international experience. They’re a great example of how the type of hyperlocal organizing we focus on doesn’t actually me...

Nov 27, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Episode 1 - Organizing For Parole Reform in the Pandemic

In this episode, our communications director Kathleen Pequeño interviews Jose Hamza Saldaña, the current director of the Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) Campaign and a formerly incarcerated New Yorker. RAPP has maintained a steady pace of campaigns in the pandemic, adapting and pivoting to keep defending the human rights of incarcerated New Yorkers. Jose shares RAPP’s approach of not excluding anyone from their campaigns and talks about their actions to keep the pressure on state governmen...

Nov 20, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 1