Dear Americans with Disabilities Act: 35th Anniversary
On the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sandy Ho shares outrage, heartbreak, and a vision for the future.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 23 – Creative Philanthropy: Celebrating the Power of Disabled Artistic Brilliance with Jen White-Johnson and Michael Greer
In this episode, host Justice Shorter welcomes Michael Greer, President and CEO of Arts Fund, and Jen White-Johnson, an Afro-Latina...
Power in Disability Solidarity Report
View the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's 2024 Report, "Power in Disability Solidarity."
Explore the Learning Journey: Meet Your Disability Inclusion Guides
Learn more about the exciting Learning Services options available to our members and Pledge Signatories.
Collective Access: An Active Project That Everyone Is Engaged In
Learn why collective access is a vital community practice that goes beyond compliance standards.
Thirty-Five Ways Philanthropy Can Celebrate Disability Pride Month
Learn how your organization can honor, educate, and be in solidarity with disabled movement leaders and advocates leading the way forward on disability justice, rights, and inclusion.
Who Is at the Table: Disability Representation on Philanthropic Boards
Learn why disability inclusion is a vital part of foundation board diversity, and how to make the board at your foundation more disability-inclusive.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 22 – Amplifying Autistic Perspectives and Protecting Community Well-Being with Eric Garcia
Learn how centering autistic perspectives can work to resist rising discrimination and uphold the rights and dignity of all autistic people.
Disability Solidarity in Action at the 2025 GEO Learning Conference
Learn how the Disability & Philanthropy Forum brought disability solidarity to the 2025 GEO Learning Conference!
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 21 – During Unprecedented Times: Mobilizing to Protect Disability Rights and Health Equity with Jalyn Radziminski and Henry Claypool
Learn how philanthropy can support disability organizers in pushing back against harmful health policy changes.
Britney Wilson: How Civil Rights Era Attorneys Fought for Black Disabled People
Find out how civil rights era cases showcase a history of intentional disability advocacy by Black leaders.
Mel Brown: Why Philanthropy Needs to Prioritize Relationship-Building with Movement Leaders
Learn why taking the initiative to build relationships and engage with movement leaders and communities is essential for effective grantmaking.
Patrick Cokley: How Philanthropy Can Support Black Disabled Organizations
Learn why funding Black disabled-led organizations must also include the expertise of Black disabled people working in philanthropy.
Britney Wilson: We Need Both Racial Justice and Disability Rights to Protect Section 504
Learn why collaboration between racial justice advocacy and disability rights efforts is so essential in the face of attacks on Section 504.
MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey Becomes Co-Chair of the Presidents’ Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy
Chicago, IL (March 5, 2025) - The Disability & Philanthropy Forum announced that John Palfrey, President of the John D....
Responding to the Moment: Resources on Rollbacks on Protections for People With Disabilities
Learn more about the rollbacks on protections for people with disabilities, and how both movement leaders and philanthropy are responding.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Disability Justice and Immigration
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET With the escalation in legislation targeting immigrants in the United...
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 20 – Dreaming Freedom, Finding Joy: Funding the Transgender Justice Movement with Aldita Amaru Gallardo and Rainier Miles
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.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Black Disabled Leadership: Essential Yet Overlooked
Unpack the intersecting oppression of ableism and anti-Blackness, and learn how philanthropy can support Black disabled leadership.
Members only
Member Workshop Series: Collective Access Through Disability- and Trans-Inclusive Spaces
Learn how to transform your approach to accessibility from compliance to a foundational part of your community-building strategy.
Members only
Member Workshop Series: Back to Basics: Disability Terminology and Connecting to Movement
Getting Back to Basics: Disability Terminology and Connecting to Movement
A Call to Action in Philanthropy
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.
Jen Deerinwater: How Racism and Genocide Create Disability in Native Communities
Learn how anti-Native racism and genocide disables Native communities.
Héctor Manuel Ramírez: How Philanthropy Can Learn from the Native-Led Model of Giving
Find out how non-Native philanthropy can learn from Indigenous models of giving.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 19 – Funding the Flowers: Philanthropy’s Support of Our Disabled Elders with Aurora Levins Morales
Justice Shorter and Aurora Levins Morales discuss how philanthropy can cherish, uplift, and fund the wisdom of disabled elders.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 18 – On Disability And Democracy: A Conversation with Sarah Blahovec
Justice Shorter and Sarah Blahovec dive into the landscape of disability-led political advocacy and solidarity through local, national, and global lenses.
Dr. Zakiya Mabery: How to Cultivate a Disability-Inclusive Work Environment
Learn why storytelling and emotional intelligence are essential components for creating a disability-inclusive work environment.
Eman Rimawi-Doster: How to Recruit Diverse Disabled Candidates
Learn how to build community in order to recruit diverse disabled candidates.
Kym Eisner: Going Beyond ADA Compliance to Create an Intentional Culture of Inclusion
Learn how the Presidents’ Council of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum helped the Neilsen Foundation create a culture of disability inclusion.
Maria Town: What is the Care Movement?
Learn about the wide-reaching definition and vast impact of the care movement and care economy.
Rahnee Patrick: How Philanthropy Can Support the Care Movement
Learn one way that philanthropy can get involved in the care movement.
Anna Shireen Wadia: Why the CARE Fund Supports a Disability-Led Care Movement
Learn from the example of one philanthropic collaborating centering disability in their care funding.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 17 – On Work, and Cross-Movement Organizing
Nikki Brown-Booker, Yolanda Vargas, and host Justice Shorter explore what it means to work while disabled and cultivate inclusive and equitable workplaces.
“Leadership of the Most Impacted”: Black Philanthropy Month and Disability Justice with Ryan Easterly
Ryan Easterly shares how disability justice has influenced his journey as a Black disabled leader in philanthropy.
How Funders Can Help Divert People with Mental Health Disabilities from Contact with the Criminal Legal System
Learn how philanthropy can aid in preventing the overrepresentation of people with mental health conditions in the criminal legal system.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 16 – The Role of Impact Litigation in the Fight for Disability Rights
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.
Naomi Ortiz: Why Disability Pride is Just as Important as Accessibility
Learn why disability community, culture, and pride are crucial for creating systemic change.
Jen White-Johnson: How Funders Can Support Disabled Storytellers
Learn how philanthropy can engage with and fund disabled storytelling.
The Power of Participation: How Philanthropy Can Center People on the Margins
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.
Mellon Foundation Grants Support the Artistry of Disabled Dance
Grants from the Mellon Foundation are supporting projects that celebrate disabled dancers throughout the country.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 15 – Uplifting the LGBTQIA+ Disabled Experience
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
Cory Lira: Why Philanthropy Needs to Fund Disabled LGBTQIA+ Communities
Learn about the key issues facing disabled LGBTQIA+ communities, and how philanthropic funding can support solutions.
Masen Davis: Why HIV/AIDS is a Disability Justice Issue
Learn why the HIV/AIDS movement requires both LGBTQIA+ rights and disability justice lenses.
Shaena Johnson: How Philanthropy Can Make Grantmaking More Accessible
Learn how the Out in the South Project works to make their funding process more accessible.
“Nothing About Us, Without Us” is Beginning to Take Hold in Philanthropy
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.
Dom Kelly: How Philanthropy Places Barriers on Funding for Disabled Activists
Learn about the barriers to funding that disabled activists face - and how to remove those barriers.
Daphne Frias: Why Disabled Activists Are Excellent Climate Leaders
Learn about the essential qualities that disabled activists bring to climate advocacy - and why funders should be prioritizing them.
Satonya Fair: How Philanthropy Can Go Beyond Grants to Support Disabled Activism
Learn how funders can support disability rights activists before the grantmaking stage.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 14 – Connections Between Mental Health and Disability
Mental health activist Dior Vargas discusses the role philanthropy can play in supporting mental health, wellness, and self-care.
Disability Is Intertwined With Incarceration, But This Grant Is Helping to Untangle It
With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, Access Living is working to identify and dismantle root causes of overincarceration of disabled people.
Disability Inclusion: A Radical Departure from Philanthropy’s Past
Emily Harris reflects on philanthropy's ableist past and urges the sector to move forward in a way that truly embraces disability inclusion.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 13 – The Impact of Funding Disabled Media Makers
Inevitable Foundation co-founders Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska discuss the importance of supporting authentic disability representation in the media.
How Funders Can Increase Disabled Women’s and Birthing People’s Access to Reproductive Healthcare
Author Sarah Katz addresses concrete steps that philanthropy can take to improve access to reproductive healthcare for women and birthing people.
Mona Abhari: Why Disability Justice is Crucial for Labor Organizing
Learn about the systemic barriers facing disabled workers and why disabled leadership is necessary for labor movements.
Joan Morris: How Labor Discrimination Impacts Disabled Black Women
A Black disabled worker shares the devastating effect that labor discrimination has on Black disabled women.
Marisa Torelli-Pedevska: What Workplace Accommodations Actually Cost
Learn why workplace accommodations aren’t expensive - and how to make sure your workplace is meeting the needs of disabled workers.
Monica Lucas: How Workplace Ableism Harms Disabled Film Workers
Learn how workplace ableism excludes and harms disabled film workers.
Gabriel San Emeterio: How Funders Can Support Long COVID Patient Organizing
Learn the many ways in which funding can critically shift the care and research landscape for Long COVID patients.
Dr. Zoie Sheets: Why Funders Need to Listen to Long COVID Patients
An urgent call for funders, healthcare providers, and organizers to follow the leadership of those living with Long COVID.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 12 – How Can Philanthropy Help Dismantle Healthcare Inequities?
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
Aida Akim-Escriva: How to Set Boundaries When Self-Disclosing A Disability in the Workplace
A reminder of the many forms that self-disclosing a disability can take.
Kevin Irvine: Why Self-Disclosing a Disability is Important
Learn how self-disclosing disability can create a more interconnected philanthropic sector.
Dessa Cosma: Why “Compliance” is Not Enough for Accessible Housing
Learn why it’s important to shift away from viewing accessibility through the lens of compliance.
Amanda Andere: The Importance of Funding Intersectional Housing Justice
Learn why de-siloing funding is crucial for achieving true housing justice.
Allie Cannington: How Philanthropy Can Fund Truly Disability-Inclusive Housing
A call for housing funders to center disabled perspectives.
Members only
Member Workshop Series: The Disability Inclusion Pledge: What is your North Star?
Learn how to create a north star vision plan for disability inclusion.
Members only
Member Workshop Series: Disability Inclusion & Intersectionality
Dive deeper into the intersectionality between race and disability.
Members only
Member Workshop Series: Disability Inclusive Operations
Learn how to practically spark disability inclusion objectives within operating teams.
Members only
Member Workshop Series: Disability Justice and Systems Advocacy
Explore inclusion across the workplace by examining organizational systems and practices.
Members only
Member Workshop Series: Disability Justice: Lessons from Participatory Grantmaking
Develop an action plan for deepening practices of disability justice in your grantmaking.
Members only
Member Workshop Series: Transformative Mental Health
Learn more about the current challenges and opportunities in the mental health landscape.
Member Workshop Series: Disability Inclusion Fundamentals: A Beginner’s Workshop
This introductory disability inclusion fundamentals workshop uses small and large group discussion, media, and interactive activities.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 11 – Reflections on Ableism, Anti-Blackness, and Honoring Black Disabled Ancestors
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.
The Road to Disability Inclusion Report
View the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's 2023 Report, "The Road to Disability Inclusion."
Dr. Subini Annamma: How Racism and Ableism Work to Criminalize Disabled Children of Color
A deconstruction of the racist and ableist ideologies that criminalize Black and Brown disabled children.
Candace Coleman: How Funders Can Support Formerly Incarcerated Disabled People
Three ways funders can support community reentry for formerly incarcerated disabled people.
Jamelia Morgan: How Policing Impacts People With Non-Apparent and Psychiatric Disabilities
Learn how over-policing can lead to violence against disabled communities - and what funders can do about it.
Ana Oliveira: How Foundations Can Integrate a Disability Lens in Grantmaking
Learn why a commitment to intersectional disability inclusion funding requires dismantling traditional segmented grantmaking categories.
Proposed Census Bureau Changes and the Impact on the Disability Community
Learn more about proposed changes to Census Bureau disability data collection.
Catherine Hyde Townsend: 3 Ways Philanthropy Can Demonstrate Its Commitment to Disability Inclusion
Three concrete lessons on how to internally demonstrate your organization’s disability inclusion commitment.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Disability in Indigenous Communities
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.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Disability-Inclusive Hiring
Learn how philanthropy can make its recruiting, onboarding, and retention practices disability-inclusive.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Disability Rights Activism and Organizing
A look into how disability rights activism shapes public policy.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Grantmaking for Disability: LGBTQIA+ Funding
Learn why philanthropy cannot ignore funding rights and justice for disabled LGBTQIA+ communities.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Disability Pride, Joy, and Visions for the Future
Celebrate disability pride and learn about the impact of funding disabled joy.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Disability and the Care Economy
Learn how philanthropy can center disability justice while funding organizing around care policies and programs.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 10 – The Impact of Funding Direct Action and Organizing
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.
Disability Equity Webinar Series: Disability Justice and Labor Rights
Learn why the leadership of disabled workers is crucial for labor rights organizing.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 9 – Get to Know the Disability & Philanthropy Forum Team
A fun, insightful conversation with the team members of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 8 – The Disability Inclusion Pledge
A conversation with Kristy Trautmann, Executive Director of FISA Foundation, about the Disability Inclusion Pledge.
Fact Sheet: Disability & Democracy
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.
Fact Sheet: Why Fund Disability Rights and Disability Justice?
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.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability and Long COVID
Learn about the implications of Long COVID — both for those newly disabled by COVID-19, and those who already live with other disabilities.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 7 – Shifting Toward a Disability-Inclusive Workplace Culture
A conversation with Luticha André Doucette, owner of Catalyst Consulting, about fostering inclusive, accessible, equitable workplaces.
We Cannot Achieve Housing Equity Without Accessibility
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.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 6 – Disability-Inclusive Civic Engagement
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.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 5 – Incorporating Disability Into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work
A conversation on incorporating disability into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work with Catarina Rivera, a dynamic disability public speaker and DEI consultant.
Steven Lawrence Introduces the 2023 Foundation Giving for Disability Report
An introduction to the methodology, context, and key findings from the 2023 Foundation Giving for Disability report.
Amoretta Morris: How Funders Can Support Liberation Work
Two lessons learned by a philanthropic intermediary funding social justice and liberation work.
Jen Bokoff: How Ableism Plays Out in Philanthropy
A look at three examples of systemic ableism in the philanthropic sector – and how philanthropy can counteract it.
Katherine Pérez: What Funders Need to Know About Disabled Communities of Color
Three essential reminders for funding the work of disabled people of color.
Jennifer Lee: How Disabled and Asian American Communities Form “Parallel Narratives of Resistance”
An exploration of how systemic oppression and persistent anti-Asian violence marginalize disabled Asian Americans.
Heather Watkins: Disabled Black Women and the “Strong Black Woman” Stereotype
An example of how the “Strong Black Woman” stereotype particularly burdens disabled Black women.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 4 – Disability Identity and Pride
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.
Rasheera Dopson: Why Diverse Disabled Leadership is Important
Learn how the presence of openly disabled leadership mobilizes other disabled people to become leaders.
Azeema Akram: How Self-Disclosure Creates a More Disability-Inclusive Work Culture
Discover how one person's self-disclosure can mobilize others toward a disability-inclusive culture.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 3 – All About Accessibility
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.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 2 – Disability 101
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.
Day Al-Mohamed: Why Media Created by Disabled Artists is So Important
An explanation of how disability representation in media shapes public perceptions.
Lillie Lainoff: How Writing Can Be a Platform for Representing Disabled Youth
Learn how amplifying disabled voices in literature can lead to dismantling internalized ableism.
Jen White-Johnson: Why Joy Must Be the Center of Disability Narratives
A personal look at ableist stigma in education and how disabled joy can dismantle it.
Foundation Giving for Disability
This report offers a first-ever, detailed examination of how U.S. foundations focus their support for disability communities.
A Victory for Reproductive Rights for Indonesian Women and Girls with Disabilities
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.
Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 1 – Foundation Giving for Disability
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.
Bringing a Disability Lens to Criminal Legal Reform in Baltimore
Seed funding from Open Society Institute (OSI)-Baltimore supported policy change and organizing to address unjust arrests of unhoused people with disabilities.
All of Our Futures Depend on Funding Disability
Philanthropy cannot continue to ignore disability rights and justice or relegate disabled people to the sidelines.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability, Policing, and Mass Incarceration
We must dismantle the systemic racism and ableism that criminalizes disabled people.
The Disabled Mindset: Embracing My Disability Identity
Learn more about Sarah Napoli, the Forum's Learning Services Director, in this blog post about her experiences coming into her disability identity.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability and Representation in the Workplace
How can we prioritize recruiting disabled talent and ensure everyone has the tools they need to thrive?
Members only
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability Education: Staff Training
An example of an introductory staff training on disability inclusion.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Communicating an Organization-Wide Commitment to Disability Inclusion
Learn from organizations engaging on the disability inclusion learning journey.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability and Housing
A dialogue about the economic disparities that disabled people encounter when trying to find a place to call home.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Grantmaking for Disability: Where are the Dollars?
Learn why philanthropy cannot ignore funding for disability rights and justice.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability and Lived Experiences of Communities of Color
Applying disability-explicit and race-explicit lenses to philanthropic work is critical to achieving equity and justice.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability and Leadership
Learn what is possible when philanthropic leadership centers disability and disabled people.
Tolu Adegbite Highlights the Connections Between Race, Website Design, and Accessibility
Insight on how and why website designers should recognize the connections between race and accessibility.
Tolu Adegbite Emphasizes the Need to Work on Technology Accessibility Through an Intersectional Lens
A reminder of why we must recognize how identities overlap when working on making technology truly accessible to all.
Meryl Evans Encourages Organizations to Prioritize Accessibility
A call for organizations to include Deaf and disabled people and prioritize accessibility in all of their technology development, testing, and usage.
Cara Reedy Flips the Script on Societal Perceptions of Disability
A reflection on how we talk about disability and encourages us to reconsider the language we use.
Rebecca Vallas Urges Philanthropy to Address the Widespread Economic Crisis Among Disabled Americans
A reflection on economic inequities that disabled people disproportionately experience.
Mia Ives-Rublee Explains Why Poverty is a Policy Choice
A spotlight on what actions can mitigate the poverty that disabled people experience.
Keith Jones Reflects on How Philanthropy Can Support Disability Economic Justice
A reflection on opportunities philanthropy has to direct funding toward systemic issues impacting the disability community.
Disabled People Can Be Productive Workers, But That Shouldn’t Determine Our Worth
Author Alaina Lavoie explores the ableism of disabled people being valued or devalued based on their ability to work.
Shifting My Mindset: From Internalizing Ableism to Dismantling It
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.
Fact Sheet: Disability and Economic Justice
Learn more about key statistics that highlight some of the many economic inequities disabled people experience.
Fact Sheet: Disability 101
Learn more about the disability community, frameworks to understand disability, and key disability terminology.
Black and Disabled: I Have Lived in the Shadows
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.
A Letter to the Americans with Disabilities Act on Its 32nd Birthday
Sandy Ho reflects on the ADA as a first step for disability rights and looks ahead to the future.
Lydia X.Z. Brown Powerfully Addresses Philanthropy’s Ableist Practices
A deeply honest spotlight on the multitude of ways ableism continues to show up across the philanthropic sector.
Rebecca Cokley Unpacks Philanthropy’s Ableist History
A call to use the mechanisms of philanthropy to address inequities, first by acknowledging its roots in ableism.
Ryan Easterly Reflects on the WITH Foundation’s Journey Toward Anti-Ableist Grantmaking
Learn about concrete actions WITH Foundation is taking to ensure their grantmaking practices are truly accessible and inclusive.
Understanding Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking in a Broader Social Justice Context
A conversation with Ingrid Tischer about what funders need to know about disability-inclusive grantmaking.
Dismantling the Charity Model of Disability Within Philanthropy
A conversation with Ingrid Tischer about why and how to dismantle the charity model of disability in philanthropy.
An Ableist Society: How It Shows Up In Our Philanthropic Practices – Unity Summit 2021 Fire Session
A conversation about philanthropy's role in dismantling ableism.
Centering Disability Rights and Justice in Philanthropic Practice – Unity Summit 2021 Fire Session
Emily Ladau and Sandy Ho share perspectives on disability rights and justice frameworks as ways for philanthropy to move equality and equity forward.
Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu Asks Philanthropy to Shift How It Chooses to Allocate Funds
A call for funders to reconsider existing grantmaking practices that perpetuate oppression.
Marq Mitchell Offers Guidance on How Funders Can Support Justice for Marginalized Communities
Insights on what funders must be aware of to truly advance justice through their grantmaking work.
Keris Jän Myrick Calls on Philanthropy to Center People with Lived Experience
Why it's vital for grantmakers to center people with lived experience in their grantmaking work.
Journey to Inclusion Series: Demystifying Accessible Technology
Learn from experts on disability and accessible technology.
Journey to Inclusion Series: Participatory Disability Grantmaking
Learn from disability advocates serving on participatory grantmaking committees.
Moving Toward Equity: the Disability Inclusion Pledge
by Megan E. Doherty Although disability is a natural part of the human experience, our cultures and institutions—including philanthropy—have long...
Supporting Disability Inclusion Among Creative Groups
by Lane Harwell, Program Officer, Creativity and Free Expression, Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation's Creativity and Free Expression (CFE) program...
Daphne Frias Celebrates Resilience of Disabled People as an Asset to Fighting Climate Change
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 Urges Climate Justice Funders to Include Disabled People
Dr. Yolanda Muñoz discusses why it's imperative to include the disability community in grantmaking work that addresses climate change.
Valerie Novack Discusses Environmental Racism
Valerie Novack highlights the cause and effect connections between environmental racism and disability.
How to Foster Meaningful Connections with Disability Advocates and Organizations
This resource offer suggested starting points for forging meaningful connections and partnerships with the disability community.
How to Evaluate a DEI Trainer on Disability Knowledge
The Disability Inclusion Pledge calls upon philanthropy to include education about disability in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training for...
Sample Accommodations Request Templates
The Disability Inclusion Pledge includes two key actions for event accessibility: To request that an organization provide reasonable accommodations for...
Guidance for Disability-Inclusive Grants Assessments
To better understand and learn from disability-inclusive grantmaking practices, foundations can use the following questions both for internal reflection and...
Supporting Mental Health in Philanthropy
Insights on incorporating a mental health focus within both internal operations and grantmaking practices.
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability and Economic Justice
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. In the United States, full and equal participation in society is a...
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Disability, Arts, & Culture
Powerful insights on rethink our understanding of how to support truly disability-inclusive arts and culture.
Fostering Accessible In-Person and Remote Workplaces
As we navigate the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces are continuing to grapple with policies on returning to the office. For...
How to Make Accessible, Inclusive Self-Introductions
The process of introductions during group gatherings are an important way to ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experience for...
How Can We Foster Psychologically Safe Workplaces?
Learn how to create a psychologically safe workplace for people both with and without disabilities.
Dr. Joseph Stramondo Addresses the Relationship Between Technology and Disability
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 Center BIPOC Disabled People
Dr. Subini Annamma urges philanthropy to stop centering whiteness and shift toward centering BIPOC disabled people. Click here for a...
Dr. Subini Annamma Addresses the Connection Between Mass Incarceration and Eugenics
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
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 Technologies
Lydia X. Z. Brown addresses the ableism of algorithmic systems and the impact this has on the disability community--especially multi-marginalized...
Victoria Rodriguez-Roldán Addresses the Connections Between LGBTQIA+ and Disability Identities
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on gender, sexuality, and disability, Victoria Rodriguez-Roldán calls upon the...
Leslie Templeton Addresses the Connections Between Disability and Experiences of Sexual Violence
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on gender, sexuality, and disability, Leslie Templeton addresses the connections...
Robin Wilson-Beattie Addresses Ableism and Racism in Reproductive Healthcare
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on gender, sexuality, and disability, Robin Wilson-Beattie addresses how ableism...
Journey to Inclusion Series: Disability in the Workplace: Human Resources and Employee Participation
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Data shows that people with disabilities typically have low rates of employment...
Journey to Inclusion Series: Disability Participation: Demographic Tracking and Self-Identification
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. One in four American adults have some type of disability, but few...
Journey to Inclusion Series: Disability Language
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Words matter. Wherever foundations may be on their journeys to inclusion, questions...
Journey to Inclusion Series: Learning from Disability-Led Organizations
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. “Nothing about us without us,” is a guiding principle of the disability...
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Climate Change and Disability
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Adverse effects of climate change disproportionately impact the global population of people...
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Gender, Sexuality, and Disability
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Successfully advocating for the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people requires...
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Health Equity and Disability
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. According to The Missing Billion, disabled people are three times as likely...
Disability & Philanthropy Webinar Series: Racial Equity and Disability
Click here for a transcript of this webinar. Disability cuts across all identities, but the impacts of systemic disability discrimination...
Increasing Disability Inclusion by Tracking Participation
Disability is part of human diversity, some of the infinite threads woven through the fabric of our world. Across the...
How Philanthropy Can Support Disabled Parents
by Robin Wilson-Beattie Having spent almost 17 years as a parent who has chronic, physical, and mental health disabilities, I’ve...
The Importance of, and Strategies for, Encouraging Self-ID of Disability
by Kathy Martinez Recently, I was pleased to participate in a Disability and Philanthropy Forum webinar focused on demographic tracking...
Moving the Needle on Employing People with Disabilities: What to Know About Collecting Disability Data
by Chai Feldblum People with disabilities are disproportionately unemployed and underemployed in this country. The unemployment rate in 2020 for...
Shifting Toward Inclusion: Accessible Workplaces in a World Recovering from COVID-19
by Yomi S. Wrong October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to highlight the immeasurable value people...
Eugenics: Historical Practice to Present Day Technology
by Dr. Joseph Stramondo Sir Francis Galton coined the term “eugenics” in 1883 to refer to the belief that the...
Eugenics and Disability
Many of the earliest philanthropists in the U.S. were significant ideological and financial supporters of the eugenics movement. According to...
Connections Between Gender, Sexuality, and Disability
This resource list was originally compiled in July 2021. One in five women ages 18 and older are disabled. The...
A Guide to Document Accessibility
Digital downloads are a common way for foundations and organizations to share knowledge and resources. Regardless of whether you are...
Dr. Poorna Kushalnagar Addresses the Need for Disabled Leadership in Research Funding Efforts
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum’s webinar on health equity and disability, Dr. Poorna Kushalnagar speaks to...
Andrés Gallegos Addresses Ableism in the Medical Field
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum’s webinar on health equity and disability, Andrés Gallegos speaks to the...
A Conversation about Disability and Language with Julie Petty
Emily Ladau, Digital Content & Community Manager for the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, interviews Julie Petty, Project Trainer, Initiatives on...
Anti-Black Racism and Ableism in the Workplace
by D'Arcee NealApril 2021 When I went for a job interview in the summer of 2015 for a high-powered federal...
The Time Is Now: Funding Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Youth Fellowships
This guide for funders, created by Open Society Foundations (OSF), a member of the Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in...
Connections Between Health Equity and Disability
When it comes to health care, significant disparities abound between people with disabilities and non-disabled people. From physical barriers and...
Taryn Williams Addresses the Need to Work Toward Economic Justice with a Disability-Explicit Lens
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on racial equity and disability, Taryn Williams discusses the critical...
Conchita Hernández Legorreta Addresses How Ableism and Racism Affects Disabled Immigrants
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on racial equity and disability, Conchita Hernández Legorreta speaks to...
D’Arcee Neal Addresses Intersections Between Ableism and Anti-Black Racism
In this excerpt from the Disability & Philanthropy Forum's webinar on racial equity and disability, D’Arcee Neal speaks to the...
Creating Accessible Resources
Creating and sharing resources--Word documents, PDFs, slides, etc.--is a key part of how foundations and organizations communicate about their efforts....
What Funders Need to Know About Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking: Al Otro Lado
This interview is a Q&A with Nora Phillips, Legal Director, Al Otro Lado. As the alarming impact of COVID-19 on...
Guidance for Foundations on Creating Disability Advisory Groups
As part of a commitment to upholding “Nothing about us without us” and consulting with the disability community, teams may...
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What does self-disclosing a disability mean?
This blog post was written collectively by the Ford Foundation's Disability Employee Resource Group. While few Ford staff members have...
Funder Guidance and Case Studies for Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking
Drawn from the Ford Foundation's capacity-building efforts with program staff, this guidance is intended to support grantmakers as they build...
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Chicago Community Trust Webinar on Race and Disability
As part of their "Conversations With..." speaker series, which explores high-profile topics with some of today’s most strategic thinkers in...
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Preliminary Disability Inclusion Commitments
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.
Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy: A Working Paper for Grantmakers and the Consultants Who Support Their Work
The National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) working paper is a starting place of learning for the Disability Inclusion...
Disability Inclusion Toolkit
Commissioned by the Ford Foundation's Civic Engagement & Government program, the Disability Inclusion Toolkit is written and designed by disability community leaders...
Connections Between Climate Change and Disability
People with disabilities are both the most vulnerable and the most overlooked population when it comes to addressing the effects...
What Funders Need to Know About Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking: People First Wisconsin
This interview is a Q&A with Cindy Bentley, Executive Director at People First Wisconsin. As the alarming impact of COVID-19...
What Funders Need to Know About Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking: National Council on Independent Living
This interview is a Q&A with Cara Liebowitz, Former Development Coordinator at the National Council on Independent Living. As the...
What Funders Need to Know About Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking: Disability Rights Fund
This interview is a Q&A with Jen Bokoff, Director of Development at the Disability Rights Fund and the Disability Rights...
What Funders Need to Know About Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking: Detroit Disability Power
This interview is a Q&A with Dessa Cosma, Executive Director at Detroit Disability Power. As the alarming impact of COVID-19...
What Funders Need to Know About Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking: CDPAANYS
This interview is a Q&A with Bryan O’Malley, Executive Director at CDPAANYS. As the alarming impact of COVID-19 on people...
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Disability Inclusion Fund Landscape Analysis
The Disability Inclusion Fund, housed at Borealis Philanthropy, hired Sandy Ho, a Research Associate at The Lurie Institute for Disability...
My Experiences as a Filipino/Black Woman with a Disability in Philanthropy
by Nikki Brown-Booker, August 2020 I am a Filipino/Black woman with a disability who works in philanthropy. When I enter...
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Open Society Foundations: Committing to Disability Inclusion
Open Society Foundations (OSF), a member of the Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy and a signatory of the...
Four Ways We Can Work Towards Creating Inclusive Workspaces
By Sarah Napoli, Project Officer, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Open Society Foundations, July 2020 When the pandemic hit the globe...
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Disability Inclusion 101: Getting Started and Tips/Tools for the Journey
In this webinar, hosted on July 14, 2020 by the Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy, Adela Ruiz from...
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Grantmakers’ Guide for Disability Inclusion
Wondering how to engage in rich conversations with grantees and prospective grantees to understand how they are addressing disability? Want...
Disability Inclusion & Philanthropy: Living Your Values
How can funders live their values and work toward disability inclusion? This video offers practical insight from disability advocates on...
Disability History: An Introduction
Go on a journey with disability rights activist Lawrence Carter-Long as your guide in this video overview of the rich history...
Alice Sheppard: Disability as an Art
Meet Alice Sheppard, a dancer and choreographer who uses a wheelchair. In this video, she encourages us to rethink our...
Claudia Gordon: Barriers to Inclusion
Meet Claudia Gordon, the first Black Deaf female lawyer in the United States. In this video, she encourages a perspective...
Disability Inclusion & Philanthropy: What Funders Need to Know
This extended video combines our Introduction and Message to Funders videos for streamlined viewing purposes. It features the perspectives of...
Disability Inclusion & Philanthropy: A Message to Funders
Listen up, funders! The time is now to ensure that disability is no longer relegated to a niche grantmaking area...
Disability Inclusion & Philanthropy: An Introduction
Throughout your disability inclusion learning journey, it's vital to listen to the wisdom and insights of the disability community. This...
Disability Rights History: A Brief Introduction
Disability rights are universal civil rights and human rights, but these rights are not yet fully realized by society. Though...
What is Disability?
This introductory resource explains how disability is defined and the "models of disability," or frameworks, that are used to understand...
Webinar – COVID-19 and Disability: A Call to Action for Philanthropy
COVID-19 demonstrates that disability inclusion in philanthropy is more crucial than ever. In this webinar, hosted on April 22, 2020...
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Disability Rights Hashtags and Disability Rights Activists for Grantmakers to Follow
This resource offers several starting points for connecting with the disability community on social media. Please note: This list is...
Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking in Action
Remember: it takes a journey to achieve truly disability-inclusive grantmaking, and the journey is ongoing. Here's a round-up of insight...
Catalyze Disability Inclusion in Your Grantmaking
There are many steps to take to catalyze disability-inclusive grantmaking. This guide offer fives key strategies to start. 1. Ask...
Disability Inclusion Menu
In this resource, you'll learn about strategies to bring disability inclusion to your workplace and grantmaking practices. There are many...
Accessible Technology
A truly disability-inclusive workplace is one that uses accessible technology across the board, from hiring processes to day-to-day operations. To...
Web Accessibility
This resource offers concrete information on ensuring your online presence is accessible to people with disabilities. Your foundation's online presence...
Planning Accessible Meetings and Events
This resource has easy-to-use, practical resources on how to make meetings and events more inclusive. Now that so many events...
Renewing the Commitment: An ADA Compliance Guide for Nonprofits
This guide from the Chicago Community Trust, which is geared toward nonprofit organizations, is brimming with resources that foundations can...
Disability Inclusion in Employment
This list includes a line-up of robust free resources that employers and human resources (HR) professionals can visit for guidance...
Road Map for Inclusion: Changing the Face of Disability in Media
This resource addresses the gaps in disability representation in mainstream media and addresses ways to fill these gaps. Road Map...
Disability and Language
This resource seeks to provide tips on rights-affirming language and narratives preferred by people with disabilities. It is a starting...
Know Your Disability Rights Laws
In this resource, you'll learn about key disability rights laws. While meaningful disability inclusion is about more than just complying...
Intersections Between Racism and Ableism
This resource offers insights and resources to better understand the strong connections between racism and ableism. For our work to...
The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Brief Background
Learn about the history and intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), its impact on the disability community, and...
What is Disability Justice?
In this resource, you'll learn about the origin and definition of disability justice as a movement and framework. Disability Justice...
What is Ableism?
This introductory resource provides a working definition of ableism along with information to help reflect on ableist practices. Ableism is...
Insights Into Inclusive Philanthropy – WITH Foundation
This interview with Ryan Easterly, Executive Director of the WITH Foundation, is part of a series about disability-inclusive grantmaking. The...
Insights Into Inclusive Philanthropy – Weingart Foundation
This interview with Belen Vargas, Former Senior Vice President of the Weingart Foundation, is part of a series about disability-inclusive...
Insights Into Inclusive Philanthropy – Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
This interview with Myroslava Tataryn, disability rights program officer for the International Human Rights Program at Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, is...
Philanthropic Responses to COVID-19: 4 Disability-Inclusive Approaches
This resource offers four disability-inclusive approaches, each accompanied by examples, to inform your foundation's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. For...
Resources on Disability & COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, philanthropy must further the commitment to ensure the disability community is not left behind.
Insights Into Inclusive Philanthropy – Northwest Health Foundation
This interview with Northwest Health Foundation's Jen Matheson, Director of Programs, and Laura Nash, Communications Consultant, is part of a...
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Recommended Reading on Disability
Written works on disability have shaped the Disability Rights Movement. These selections are helpful and insightful starting points.