Smart Growth California

An Initiative of the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities

Funder Summit

Smart Growth California’s Funder Summit brings together grantmakers to learn, connect, and take action. Register now to join us February 12-13, 2019 in Sacramento.

These challenging times call for funders to lead in bold new ways, especially here in California. A better future for all Californians, especially low-income communities and communities of color, will require unprecedented levels of innovation, collaboration, and action.

That’s why our next Funder Summit will be held in Sacramento from February 12-13, 2019, right on the heels of the November elections with a focus on climate, housing, wildfire, and water. View the agenda.

Confirmed Speakers

  • Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board
  • Kate Gordon, Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
  • Darrell Steinberg, Mayor of Sacramento and author of SB 375, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008
  • Chet Hewitt, President, Sierra Health Foundation
  • Anthony Rendon, California State Assembly Speaker
  • Anya Lawler, Western Center on Law and Poverty
  • Joaquin Esquivel, State Water Resources Control Board
  • Daniel Sperling, UC Davis, Institute for Transportation Studies
  • Dr. Manuel Pastor, Director of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) at USC
  • James Corless, Sacramento Area Council of Governments
  • Dennis O’Connor, Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
  • Bill Craven, Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
  • Katie Valenzuela, Office of Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia
  • Lisa Engel, Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee
  • Margaret Van Vliet, Sonoma County Community Development Commission

Register now.

At the 2019 Funder Summit, you will:

  • Hear from elected leaders and agency officials about the biggest policy opportunities at the regional and state levels.
  • Gain insights from the nonprofit and community partners who are leading groundbreaking efforts on-the-ground.
  • Share and strategize with funders across issue areas and geographies.

California can be proof for what’s possible on so many fronts: social justice, health, affordable housing, transportation, water, parks, climate, and economic opportunity.

But it won’t happen without you, so please mark your calendar for the 2019 Funder Summit. The Funder Summit is being designed to facilitate action at every turn, with significant time for break-out groups and networking. We’re also bringing California’s new reality of wildfire into many of the Summit conversations. View the agenda.

Register now.

2019 Funder Summit Locations

Recommended Accommodations

Smart Growth California has reserved a small block of rooms at the Citizen Hotel, which is where the first day of the Summit will be held. To book your room and secure the reduced rate, use this link or call the hotel directly at 916.447.2700 and reference the “Smart Growth California Funder Summit” or group code “SGC.” Reduced rate for rooms ends January 21.

Planning Committee

Who’s Attending So Far?

Funders from: Arrow Impact; Annenberg Foundation; Bank of America; S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation; The California Endowment; The California Wellness Foundation; Central Valley Community Foundation; Common Counsel Foundation; Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation; Energy Foundation; Enterprise Community Partners; First 5 LA; the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation; Garfield Foundation; Irvine Foundation; Latino Community Foundation; Liberty Hill Foundation; Marin Community Foundation; the McConnell Foundation; NextGen Policy Center; Next10; Orfalea Foundation; Passport Foundation; Resources Legacy Fund; Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment; Sacramento Regional Foundation; the San Diego Foundation; The San Francisco Foundation; Sierra Health Foundation; Silicon Valley Community Foundation; the Seed Fund; and the Water Foundation.

Who Should Attend the Funder Summit?

We welcome all funders to attend who are currently supporting efforts to build healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities in California. This includes institutional grantmakers (family foundations; private independent foundations; community and public foundations; corporate foundations).