Featured Resource
Chicago, IL (March 5, 2025) - The Disability & Philanthropy Forum announced that John Palfrey, President of the John D....
Learn how philanthropy can fund tangible impact in the transgender justice movement, and why it's so crucial to refuse to fall in line with rollbacks and attacks on trans disabled communities.
Grants from the Mellon Foundation are supporting projects that celebrate disabled dancers throughout the country.
View the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's 2023 Report, "The Road to Disability Inclusion."
Learn why funding the leadership of disabled Indigenous people is vital for advancing justice for Indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and everyone who exists at the intersection.
Democracy is not just about having the ability to vote and make an informed choice, but it’s also knowing that everyone…deserves that opportunity and that right. Therefore it’s up to [all of us] to ensure that we bring everyone to the table and that everyone has a voice.
This report offers a first-ever, detailed examination of how U.S. foundations focus their support for disability communities.
Learn more about the exciting Learning Services options available to our members and Pledge Signatories.
First compiled in March 2025.
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET With the escalation in legislation targeting immigrants in the United...
Unpack the intersecting oppression of ableism and anti-Blackness, and learn how philanthropy can support Black disabled leadership.
Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM ET What if access was collectively created and shared in our...
Getting Back to Basics: Disability Terminology and Connecting to Movement
Sandy Ho shares a view of her first 6 months as Executive Director of the Forum, and gives a glimpse into what's in store for 2025.
Learn how anti-Native racism and genocide disables Native communities.
Find out how non-Native philanthropy can learn from Indigenous models of giving.
Justice Shorter and Aurora Levins Morales discuss how philanthropy can cherish, uplift, and fund the wisdom of disabled elders.
Justice Shorter and Sarah Blahovec dive into the landscape of disability-led political advocacy and solidarity through local, national, and global lenses.
Learn why storytelling and emotional intelligence are essential components for creating a disability-inclusive work environment.
Learn how to build community in order to recruit diverse disabled candidates.
Learn how the Presidents’ Council of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum helped the Neilsen Foundation create a culture of disability inclusion.
Learn about the wide-reaching definition and vast impact of the care movement and care economy.
Learn one way that philanthropy can get involved in the care movement.
Learn from the example of one philanthropic collaborating centering disability in their care funding.
Nikki Brown-Booker, Yolanda Vargas, and host Justice Shorter explore what it means to work while disabled and cultivate inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Ryan Easterly shares how disability justice has influenced his journey as a Black disabled leader in philanthropy.
Learn how philanthropy can aid in preventing the overrepresentation of people with mental health conditions in the criminal legal system.
Rebecca Williford, Esq., President & CEO of Disability Rights Advocates, shines a spotlight on the work of her organization, a national nonprofit disability rights legal center that fights systemic discrimination against people with disabilities through impact litigation.
Learn why disability community, culture, and pride are crucial for creating systemic change.
Learn how philanthropy can engage with and fund disabled storytelling.
Learn more about the the Advancing Participation in Philanthropy Tool (APPT), a self-assessment tool to help philanthropy shift power in support of participatory grantmaking.
Gabriel Foster, Co-founder & Executive Director of the Trans Justice Funding Project, shines a spotlight on the importance of centering the leadership of trans people in funding decisions, particularly in relation to intersecting oppressions such as ableism
Learn about the key issues facing disabled LGBTQIA+ communities, and how philanthropic funding can support solutions.
Learn why the HIV/AIDS movement requires both LGBTQIA+ rights and disability justice lenses.
Learn how the Out in the South Project works to make their funding process more accessible.
Emily Harris reflects on her time as the executive director of the Forum and shares stories of the change that is starting to take hold in the philanthropic sector.
Learn about the barriers to funding that disabled activists face - and how to remove those barriers.
Learn about the essential qualities that disabled activists bring to climate advocacy - and why funders should be prioritizing them.
Learn how funders can support disability rights activists before the grantmaking stage.
Mental health activist Dior Vargas discusses the role philanthropy can play in supporting mental health, wellness, and self-care.
With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, Access Living is working to identify and dismantle root causes of overincarceration of disabled people.
Emily Harris reflects on philanthropy's ableist past and urges the sector to move forward in a way that truly embraces disability inclusion.
Inevitable Foundation co-founders Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska discuss the importance of supporting authentic disability representation in the media.
Author Sarah Katz addresses concrete steps that philanthropy can take to improve access to reproductive healthcare for women and birthing people.
Learn about the systemic barriers facing disabled workers and why disabled leadership is necessary for labor movements.
A Black disabled worker shares the devastating effect that labor discrimination has on Black disabled women.
Learn why workplace accommodations aren’t expensive - and how to make sure your workplace is meeting the needs of disabled workers.
Learn how workplace ableism excludes and harms disabled film workers.
Learn the many ways in which funding can critically shift the care and research landscape for Long COVID patients.
An urgent call for funders, healthcare providers, and organizers to follow the leadership of those living with Long COVID.
A conversation with Dr. Bonnie Swenor, Endowed Professor of Disability Health and Justice at The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, about the many healthcare inequities that the disability community experiences due to ableism and inaccessibility
A reminder of the many forms that self-disclosing a disability can take.
Learn how self-disclosing disability can create a more interconnected philanthropic sector.
Learn why it’s important to shift away from viewing accessibility through the lens of compliance.
Learn why de-siloing funding is crucial for achieving true housing justice.
A call for housing funders to center disabled perspectives.
Learn how to create a north star vision plan for disability inclusion.
Dive deeper into the intersectionality between race and disability.
Learn how to practically spark disability inclusion objectives within operating teams.
Explore inclusion across the workplace by examining organizational systems and practices.
Develop an action plan for deepening practices of disability justice in your grantmaking.
Learn more about the current challenges and opportunities in the mental health landscape.
This introductory disability inclusion fundamentals workshop uses small and large group discussion, media, and interactive activities.
A conversation between Olivia Williams and Dr. Sami Schalk on the connections between ableism and anti-Blackness, shines a spotlight on historical and contemporary Black disabled activism, and uplifts why it's essential to fund the groundbreaking work of Black disabled folks.
A deconstruction of the racist and ableist ideologies that criminalize Black and Brown disabled children.
Three ways funders can support community reentry for formerly incarcerated disabled people.
Learn how over-policing can lead to violence against disabled communities - and what funders can do about it.
Learn why a commitment to intersectional disability inclusion funding requires dismantling traditional segmented grantmaking categories.
Learn more about proposed changes to Census Bureau disability data collection.
Three concrete lessons on how to internally demonstrate your organization’s disability inclusion commitment.
Learn how philanthropy can make its recruiting, onboarding, and retention practices disability-inclusive.
A look into how disability rights activism shapes public policy.
Learn why philanthropy cannot ignore funding rights and justice for disabled LGBTQIA+ communities.
Celebrate disability pride and learn about the impact of funding disabled joy.
Learn how philanthropy can center disability justice while funding organizing around care policies and programs.
A conversation about funding direct action and organizing with Julie Farrar, a longtime disabled organizer and activist, along with Jen Matheson, who leads the Advancing Disability Justice program at Northwest Health Foundation.
Learn why the leadership of disabled workers is crucial for labor rights organizing.
A fun, insightful conversation with the team members of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum.
A conversation with Kristy Trautmann, Executive Director of FISA Foundation, about the Disability Inclusion Pledge.
Disability is a natural part of the human experience. Disabled people are part of the beautiful threads of diversity woven throughout our world. It’s important to recognize that disability is, for so many, a celebrated identity connected to a vibrant history, culture, and community.
Learn about the implications of Long COVID — both for those newly disabled by COVID-19, and those who already live with other disabilities.
A conversation with Luticha André Doucette, owner of Catalyst Consulting, about fostering inclusive, accessible, equitable workplaces.
Dessa Cosma, the Executive Director of Detroit Disability Power, reflects on her experiences with housing inaccessibility and urges policymakers and funders to take action toward a more equitable housing sector.
A conversation with Dom Kelly, Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South, and Jalyn Radziminski, Founder of Count US IN; Commissioner and Vice Chair for Indiana Disability Rights’ Protection and Advocacy Services, and Director of Engagement at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, on why it's essential to incorporate disability into all civic and political engagement work.
A conversation on incorporating disability into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work with Catarina Rivera, a dynamic disability public speaker and DEI consultant.
An introduction to the methodology, context, and key findings from the 2023 Foundation Giving for Disability report.
Two lessons learned by a philanthropic intermediary funding social justice and liberation work.
A look at three examples of systemic ableism in the philanthropic sector – and how philanthropy can counteract it.
Three essential reminders for funding the work of disabled people of color.
An exploration of how systemic oppression and persistent anti-Asian violence marginalize disabled Asian Americans.
An example of how the “Strong Black Woman” stereotype particularly burdens disabled Black women.
A conversation on disability pride with Ryan Easterly, Executive Director of WITH Foundation, and Justice Shorter, a Disability Justice advocate and international advisor for disability inclusive humanitarian and disaster assistance.
Learn how the presence of openly disabled leadership mobilizes other disabled people to become leaders.
Discover how one person's self-disclosure can mobilize others toward a disability-inclusive culture.
A conversation with Taryn Mackenzie Williams, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, on accessibility--what it means, how to implement it, and why it makes the world a just, equitable place.
A conversation with Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, that shines a light on disability and offers insights for wherever you may be on your learning journey.
An explanation of how disability representation in media shapes public perceptions.
Learn how amplifying disabled voices in literature can lead to dismantling internalized ableism.
A personal look at ableist stigma in education and how disabled joy can dismantle it.
Supported by funding from the Disability Rights Fund and its sister fund, the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund, women in Indonesia fought to protect their reproductive rights.
A conversation with Sandy Ho and Dr. Richard Besser on why it's essential that philanthropy applies a disability lens across all of their operations and grantmaking.
Seed funding from Open Society Institute (OSI)-Baltimore supported policy change and organizing to address unjust arrests of unhoused people with disabilities.
Philanthropy cannot continue to ignore disability rights and justice or relegate disabled people to the sidelines.
We must dismantle the systemic racism and ableism that criminalizes disabled people.
Learn more about Sarah Napoli, the Forum's Learning Services Director, in this blog post about her experiences coming into her disability identity.
How can we prioritize recruiting disabled talent and ensure everyone has the tools they need to thrive?
An example of an introductory staff training on disability inclusion.
Learn from organizations engaging on the disability inclusion learning journey.
A dialogue about the economic disparities that disabled people encounter when trying to find a place to call home.
Learn why philanthropy cannot ignore funding for disability rights and justice.
Applying disability-explicit and race-explicit lenses to philanthropic work is critical to achieving equity and justice.
Learn what is possible when philanthropic leadership centers disability and disabled people.
Insight on how and why website designers should recognize the connections between race and accessibility.
A reminder of why we must recognize how identities overlap when working on making technology truly accessible to all.
A call for organizations to include Deaf and disabled people and prioritize accessibility in all of their technology development, testing, and usage.
A reflection on how we talk about disability and encourages us to reconsider the language we use.
A reflection on economic inequities that disabled people disproportionately experience.
A spotlight on what actions can mitigate the poverty that disabled people experience.
A reflection on opportunities philanthropy has to direct funding toward systemic issues impacting the disability community.
Author Alaina Lavoie explores the ableism of disabled people being valued or devalued based on their ability to work.
Learn more about Emily Harris, the Forum's Executive Director, in this blog post about her journey to identifying as disabled and working to dismantle ableism.
Learn more about key statistics that highlight some of the many economic inequities disabled people experience.
Learn more about the disability community, frameworks to understand disability, and key disability terminology.
Learn more about Gail Fuller, the Forum's Program and Communications Director, in this blog post about her experiences as a Black woman with a non-apparent disability.
Sandy Ho reflects on the ADA as a first step for disability rights and looks ahead to the future.
A deeply honest spotlight on the multitude of ways ableism continues to show up across the philanthropic sector.
A call to use the mechanisms of philanthropy to address inequities, first by acknowledging its roots in ableism.
Learn about concrete actions WITH Foundation is taking to ensure their grantmaking practices are truly accessible and inclusive.
A conversation with Ingrid Tischer about what funders need to know about disability-inclusive grantmaking.
A conversation with Ingrid Tischer about why and how to dismantle the charity model of disability in philanthropy.
A conversation about philanthropy's role in dismantling ableism.
Emily Ladau and Sandy Ho share perspectives on disability rights and justice frameworks as ways for philanthropy to move equality and equity forward.
A call for funders to reconsider existing grantmaking practices that perpetuate oppression.
Insights on what funders must be aware of to truly advance justice through their grantmaking work.
Why it's vital for grantmakers to center people with lived experience in their grantmaking work.
Learn from experts on disability and accessible technology.
Learn from disability advocates serving on participatory grantmaking committees.
by Megan E. Doherty Although disability is a natural part of the human experience, our cultures and institutions—including philanthropy—have long...
by Lane Harwell, Program Officer, Creativity and Free Expression, Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation's Creativity and Free Expression (CFE) program...
Daphne Frias shares her perspective on why the resilience and knowledge of the disability community are vital assets to the work to fight climate change.
Dr. Yolanda Muñoz discusses why it's imperative to include the disability community in grantmaking work that addresses climate change.
Valerie Novack highlights the cause and effect connections between environmental racism and disability.
This resource offer suggested starting points for forging meaningful connections and partnerships with the disability community.
The Disability Inclusion Pledge calls upon philanthropy to include education about disability in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training for...
The Disability Inclusion Pledge includes two key actions for event accessibility: To request that an organization provide reasonable accommodations for...
To better understand and learn from disability-inclusive grantmaking practices, foundations can use the following questions both for internal reflection and...
Insights on incorporating a mental health focus within both internal operations and grantmaking practices.
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. In the United States, full and equal participation in society is a...
Powerful insights on rethink our understanding of how to support truly disability-inclusive arts and culture.
As we navigate the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces are continuing to grapple with policies on returning to the office. For...
The process of introductions during group gatherings are an important way to ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experience for...
Learn how to create a psychologically safe workplace for people both with and without disabilities.
Dr. Joseph Stramondo urges a reconsideration of how technology is used in relation to disability, focusing on technology as a...
Dr. Subini Annamma urges philanthropy to stop centering whiteness and shift toward centering BIPOC disabled people. Click here for a...
Dr. Subini Annamma shares the ways in which mass incarceration is connected to eugenics. She addresses both the disproportionate incarceration...
Lydia X. Z. Brown calls on philanthropy to center multi-marginalized disabled people within their work and equitably redistribute resources. Click...
Lydia X. Z. Brown addresses the ableism of algorithmic systems and the impact this has on the disability community--especially multi-marginalized...
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on gender, sexuality, and disability, Victoria Rodriguez-Roldán calls upon the...
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on gender, sexuality, and disability, Leslie Templeton addresses the connections...
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on gender, sexuality, and disability, Robin Wilson-Beattie addresses how ableism...
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Data shows that people with disabilities typically have low rates of employment...
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. One in four American adults have some type of disability, but few...
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Words matter. Wherever foundations may be on their journeys to inclusion, questions...
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. “Nothing about us without us,” is a guiding principle of the disability...
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Adverse effects of climate change disproportionately impact the global population of people...
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Successfully advocating for the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people requires...
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. According to The Missing Billion, disabled people are three times as likely...
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Disability cuts across all identities, but the impacts of systemic disability discrimination...
Disability is part of human diversity, some of the infinite threads woven through the fabric of our world. Across the...
by Robin Wilson-Beattie Having spent almost 17 years as a parent who has chronic, physical, and mental health disabilities, I’ve...
by Kathy Martinez Recently, I was pleased to participate in a Disability and Philanthropy Forum webinar focused on demographic tracking...
by Chai Feldblum People with disabilities are disproportionately unemployed and underemployed in this country. The unemployment rate in 2020 for...
by Yomi S. Wrong October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to highlight the immeasurable value people...
by Dr. Joseph Stramondo Sir Francis Galton coined the term “eugenics” in 1883 to refer to the belief that the...
Many of the earliest philanthropists in the U.S. were significant ideological and financial supporters of the eugenics movement. According to...
This resource list was originally compiled in July 2021. One in five women ages 18 and older are disabled. The...
Digital downloads are a common way for foundations and organizations to share knowledge and resources. Regardless of whether you are...
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum’s webinar on health equity and disability, Dr. Poorna Kushalnagar speaks to...
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum’s webinar on health equity and disability, Andrés Gallegos speaks to the...
Emily Ladau, Digital Content & Community Manager for the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, interviews Julie Petty, Project Trainer, Initiatives on...
by D'Arcee NealApril 2021 When I went for a job interview in the summer of 2015 for a high-powered federal...
This guide for funders, created by Open Society Foundations (OSF), a member of the Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in...
When it comes to health care, significant disparities abound between people with disabilities and non-disabled people. From physical barriers and...
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on racial equity and disability, Taryn Williams discusses the critical...
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on racial equity and disability, Conchita Hernández Legorreta speaks to...
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on racial equity and disability, D’Arcee Neal speaks to the...
Creating and sharing resources--Word documents, PDFs, slides, etc.--is a key part of how foundations and organizations communicate about their efforts....
This interview is a Q&A with Nora Phillips, Legal Director, Al Otro Lado. As the alarming impact of COVID-19 on...
As part of a commitment to upholding “Nothing about us without us” and consulting with the disability community, teams may...
This blog post was written collectively by the Ford Foundation's Disability Employee Resource Group. While few Ford staff members have...
Drawn from the Ford Foundation's capacity-building efforts with program staff, this guidance is intended to support grantmakers as they build...
As part of their "Conversations With..." speaker series, which explores high-profile topics with some of today’s most strategic thinkers in...
Findings from this survey of the Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy provide insight for each foundation as well as a potential baseline for future data collection about disability inclusion in philanthropy.
The National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) working paper is a starting place of learning for the Disability Inclusion...
Commissioned by the Ford Foundation's Civic Engagement & Government program, the Disability Inclusion Toolkit is written and designed by disability community leaders...
People with disabilities are both the most vulnerable and the most overlooked population when it comes to addressing the effects...
This interview is a Q&A with Cindy Bentley, Executive Director at People First Wisconsin. As the alarming impact of COVID-19...
This interview is a Q&A with Cara Liebowitz, Former Development Coordinator at the National Council on Independent Living. As the...
This interview is a Q&A with Jen Bokoff, Director of Development at the Disability Rights Fund and the Disability Rights...
This interview is a Q&A with Dessa Cosma, Executive Director at Detroit Disability Power. As the alarming impact of COVID-19...
This interview is a Q&A with Bryan O’Malley, Executive Director at CDPAANYS. As the alarming impact of COVID-19 on people...
The Disability Inclusion Fund, housed at Borealis Philanthropy, hired Sandy Ho, a Research Associate at The Lurie Institute for Disability...
by Nikki Brown-Booker, August 2020 I am a Filipino/Black woman with a disability who works in philanthropy. When I enter...
Open Society Foundations (OSF), a member of the Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy and a signatory of the...
By Sarah Napoli, Project Officer, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Open Society Foundations, July 2020 When the pandemic hit the globe...
In this webinar, hosted on July 14, 2020 by the Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy, Adela Ruiz from...
Wondering how to engage in rich conversations with grantees and prospective grantees to understand how they are addressing disability? Want...
How can funders live their values and work toward disability inclusion? This video offers practical insight from disability advocates on...
Go on a journey with disability rights activist Lawrence Carter-Long as your guide in this video overview of the rich history...
Meet Alice Sheppard, a dancer and choreographer who uses a wheelchair. In this video, she encourages us to rethink our...
Meet Claudia Gordon, the first Black Deaf female lawyer in the United States. In this video, she encourages a perspective...
This extended video combines our Introduction and Message to Funders videos for streamlined viewing purposes. It features the perspectives of...
Listen up, funders! The time is now to ensure that disability is no longer relegated to a niche grantmaking area...
Throughout your disability inclusion learning journey, it's vital to listen to the wisdom and insights of the disability community. This...
Disability rights are universal civil rights and human rights, but these rights are not yet fully realized by society. Though...
This introductory resource explains how disability is defined and the "models of disability," or frameworks, that are used to understand...
COVID-19 demonstrates that disability inclusion in philanthropy is more crucial than ever. In this webinar, hosted on April 22, 2020...
This resource offers several starting points for connecting with the disability community on social media. Please note: This list is...
Remember: it takes a journey to achieve truly disability-inclusive grantmaking, and the journey is ongoing. Here's a round-up of insight...
There are many steps to take to catalyze disability-inclusive grantmaking. This guide offer fives key strategies to start. 1. Ask...
In this resource, you'll learn about strategies to bring disability inclusion to your workplace and grantmaking practices. There are many...
A truly disability-inclusive workplace is one that uses accessible technology across the board, from hiring processes to day-to-day operations. To...
This resource offers concrete information on ensuring your online presence is accessible to people with disabilities. Your foundation's online presence...
This resource has easy-to-use, practical resources on how to make meetings and events more inclusive. Now that so many events...
This guide from the Chicago Community Trust, which is geared toward nonprofit organizations, is brimming with resources that foundations can...
This list includes a line-up of robust free resources that employers and human resources (HR) professionals can visit for guidance...
This resource addresses the gaps in disability representation in mainstream media and addresses ways to fill these gaps. Road Map...
This resource seeks to provide tips on rights-affirming language and narratives preferred by people with disabilities. It is a starting...
In this resource, you'll learn about key disability rights laws. While meaningful disability inclusion is about more than just complying...
This resource offers insights and resources to better understand the strong connections between racism and ableism. For our work to...
Learn about the history and intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), its impact on the disability community, and...
In this resource, you'll learn about the origin and definition of disability justice as a movement and framework. Disability Justice...
This introductory resource provides a working definition of ableism along with information to help reflect on ableist practices. Ableism is...
This interview with Ryan Easterly, Executive Director of the WITH Foundation, is part of a series about disability-inclusive grantmaking. The...
This interview with Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, is part of a series about disability-inclusive grantmaking. The...
This interview with Belen Vargas, Former Senior Vice President of the Weingart Foundation, is part of a series about disability-inclusive...
This interview with Myroslava Tataryn, disability rights program officer for the International Human Rights Program at Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, is...
This resource offers four disability-inclusive approaches, each accompanied by examples, to inform your foundation's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. For...
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, philanthropy must further the commitment to ensure the disability community is not left behind.
This interview with Northwest Health Foundation's Jen Matheson, Director of Programs, and Laura Nash, Communications Consultant, is part of a...
Written works on disability have shaped the Disability Rights Movement. These selections are helpful and insightful starting points.
