Events
Upcoming Events
Pathways to Opportunity: Non-Traditional Pathways to Career Success
TBF and United Way of Massachusetts Bay invite you to our next convening on career-connected learning for young people in Boston. Featuring new and non-traditional pathways to success for students and young adults in Greater Boston, leaders from nonprofits, schools, and philanthropy will come together to discuss the importance of providing versatile, flexible, high-quality secondary and postsecondary career-building paths to young people.
Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
#ShopAAPI Holiday 2024
Join us for the 2024 Annual #ShopAAPI Holiday festivities, a vibrant celebration of local AAPI small businesses and a perfect way to kick off the holiday season! Kicking off at 4:30 pm, the AAPI Intergenerational Entrepreneurship Panel will explore how values, culture, and approaches to business have evolved. Then, starting at 5:00 pm, the festive night market will feature 40 AAPI-owned vendors with everything from handcrafted goods to pop-up food court treats.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Register for this in-person eventSelected Recent Events
Coffee & Conversation: Parents Under Pressure
This webinar, part of the Nurturing Strong Beginnings Coffee and Conversation series, focused on the state of parents' mental health and its profound impact on the long-term health of children, based on the latest findings from the U.S. Surgeon General advisory. The event highlighted research insights, practical approaches to bolstering support for parents and caregivers, and ways to create community networks that nurture family well-being.
Friday, December 6, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
The 2024 Boston Foundation Annual Meeting: Powering a Culture of Philanthropy
TBF's 2024 Annual Report is built around stories about our community of donors and the inventive ways they partner with the nonprofit organizations and causes they support. To complement that work, we're also pleased to highlight a new video series that captures our partnerships with nonprofit leaders and organizations across our Pathways to Equity.
Thursday, November 21, 2024, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Read the 2024 Annual Report and Watch the Videos
Building Blocks: Status of Child Care Reform in MA and What Comes Next
In January 2023, the Massachusetts Taxpayer’s Foundation (MTF) released a report on the Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) system, highlighting shortcomings and offering recommendations. MTF’s follow-up report, “Building Blocks,” reviews progress, identifies areas for improvement, and provides new recommendations. The Boston Foundation and MTF released this report with policymakers and advocates to celebrate improved family access and discuss strategies to sustain the workforce and expand access for children.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Click here for the video and recap
Minding the Gap: Personal Wealth
Wealth disparities influence outcomes in health, education, and career, with greater wealth providing significant advantages. However. decades of disinvestment and racial discrimination limit the ability of households and communities of color to accumulate wealth. In the final event in TBF's wealth gap event series, “Minding the Gap: Personal Wealth," experts discussed how wealth-building opportunities can enhance quality of life.
Friday, November 15, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Pathways to Opportunity: A Conversation about High School-Based Pathways in Boston
The second convening by TBF and EdVestors on career-connected learning for Boston's youth, this conversation focused on how to make high-quality, relevant, and equitable pathways from high school to college and careers. Featuring a panel of leaders from the school district, higher ed, local nonprofits, and employers, we explored building an infrastructure of supports for high school and district staff, aligning state and local policies and resources, and fostering innovations that advance equitable access for students.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
The 2024 Greater Boston Housing Report Card
A highly-anticipated annual report for more than two decades, the Greater Boston Housing Report Card analyzes the latest trends in the Greater Boston housing market with a deep dive into the metrics and analysis of key housing issues. For 2024, the Boston Indicators team analyzes the core metrics of the region's housing, while researchers from Boston University’s Initiative on Cities take a close look at the opportunities and obstacles in using publicly-owned land to develop affordable housing in this year's Special Topic. Thanks for joining us to explore the new report!
November 12, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Thriving Together: Cultivating Well-being & Sustainability in the Social Sector
Last fall, with support from TBF, the Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) launched its Well-being Initiative – an effort to research, develop, teach, and disseminate a set of interventions that address rising burnout, turnover, and workforce shortages in the social sector. Thank you for joining us for the release of INP’s well-being report – Thriving Together: Cultivating Well-being & Sustainability in the Social Sector.
Monday, November 4th, 2024, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
Valuing Our Nonprofit Workforce
Anchored by Third Sector New England, Inc. (TSNE)’s latest compensation report, Valuing Our Nonprofit Workforce, this event explored trends in nonprofit compensation and benefits and examined key workforce shifts shaping the sector. Presenters shared data trends from the research and offered insights on how nonprofits are navigating wage disparities, followed by a panel discussion of the challenges of implementing pay equity at the board level, and best practices for making the case for fair compensation.
Tuesday, October 29th, 2024, 9:00a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Click here for the video and recap
¡Para Frente! Brazilians in Massachusetts
In partnership with Instituto Diaspora Brasil, the Latino Equity Fund at TBF is thrilled to launch of a special report that commemorates 50 years of the vibrant Brazilian community in MA. This report release and forum featured in-depth analysis of the demographics of MA's Brazilian population, along with rich insights from interviews and focus groups with second-generation Brazilians, community organizations, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, and artists.
Thursday, October 24, 2024, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Read a recap of the event
The Latino Factor: Road to Prosperity
In partnership with Conexion and GBH, this community forum featured a keynote by renowned author/journalist Ray Suarez and panel with local experts to discuss the socioeconomic impact Latinos have on our home state. The event kicked off with a reception featuring delicious food and the chance to connect with fellow attendees followed by a conversation with attendees in-person and the option to livestream.
Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 6:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Legalizing Mid-Rise Single-Stair Housing in Massachusetts
An audience of more than 350 people, in-person and online, joined Boston Indicators, the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and the design firm Utile, for an exploration of what modernizing building codes to allow for 'single-stair' designs could do to unlock more housing in Greater Boston.
Thursday, October 10th, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Click here for the event video and recap
Investment in Early Education and Child Care in Massachusetts
What should be the unified strategy to optimize the use of funding in a way that catapults the early education and child-care sector forward? The Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy joined The Boston Foundation for this report release, bringing together policymakers, advocates, funders, and providers to celebrate the successes of recent investments, identify challenges that remain, and explore how funding can best support the sector. The Rennie Center shared the results of their research on this topic, and a stakeholder panel discussed how to act on key findings from the study.
Tuesday, October 8th, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Click here for video and recap
Safety Net Grants Information Session
This session offered potential applicants to the Safety Net Grants program a chance to learn more about the eligibility requirements, application process and selection criteria.
Monday, September 30th, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Watch a recording of the info session webinar
Redefining Maternal Health: Innovations and Equity for Birthing People
This webinar, part of the Nurturing Strong Beginnings Coffee and Conversation series, will focus on maternal morbidity and mortality. Recent research reveals significant disparities among birthing people, despite improved data collection. This event will feature a research presentation and a panel discussion with healthcare leaders and advocates, addressing the key factors causing these outcomes. Experts will discuss advancing maternal health equity, addressing systemic injustices, and promoting change.
Friday, September 27, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
¡Pa’lante! Childcare Matters In partnership with Amplify LatinX
In Massachusetts, quality childcare and early education are limited and expensive, particularly for Black and Latino children. This forum will bring together local experts to discuss the latest trends and challenges in childcare and early education and their impact on communities of color, and provide a networking opportunity for attendees, providers and officials. Click below to register or to learn more about other events in the series.
Thursday, September 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Click here for the event recap
Pathways to Opportunity: Career-Connected Learning for Boston's Young People
How do we ensure citywide goals guide high-quality, relevant, and flexible college and career pathways for young people in Boston? This event brought together local education leaders to discuss the collective ways we can achieve citywide goals, prepare for challenges ahead, and leverage opportunities to strengthen the ecosystem of career-connected learning options.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
The State of AAPI-owned Businesses in Mass.
AAPI businesses are the fastest-growing ownership sector in Massachusetts, yet they continue to be misunderstood and under-supported. The Asian Business Empowerment Council (ABEC) initiated a multi-year study to explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by AAPI entrepreneurs. This event delved into the study's findings, with insights from community organizations, funders, and AAPI business owners, and engaged a panel of experts to discuss policy and practice strategies for driving change.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Programs with a Purpose: The Power of SPCPs
Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs) are tools designed to support underserved and economically disadvantaged communities through targeted lending products. This event brought together financial and legal experts, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss the design, implementation, and impact of SPCPs, drawing on their real-world experiences.
Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Homelessness in Greater Boston Trends in the Context of Our Broader Housing Crisis
How many people are homeless in Greater Boston, what are the recent trends, who is falling into homelessness, and what role does Greater Boston's housing crisis play? In a new analysis, Boston Indicators takes a deep dive into the data on homelessness in Greater Boston to answer these questions. At this 30-minute author briefing, Boston Indicators researchers Kelly Harrington and Peter Ciurczak shared findings of this new report.
Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Minding the Gap: Community Wealth
Hosted by the Greater Boston Partnership to Close the Racial Wealth Gap, this event, the third in a Minding the Gap series, convened community wealth experts to discuss the history and importance of community wealth initiatives, and their value for strengthening local economic power and community assets.
Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Click here for the event video and recap
The Latino Equity Fund Presents: ¡Pa’lante! A Decade of Impact
The year 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the Latino Equity Fund’s (LEF) first grant cycle as an established equity fund at TBF. To commemorate LEF’s impact as the only philanthropic fund dedicated to Latinos in MA, the Fund hosted a community celebration that featured Latinidad, music, performances and delicious local cuisine at Bow Market in Somerville. Thank you for joining us to celebrate!
Friday, June 21, 2024, 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. / Bow Market, Somerville
Setting Roots in Rocky Soil: The State of AAPI-owned Businesses in Massachusetts
The Asian Business Empowerment Council (ABEC) at the Asian Community Fund released of a multi-year study examining the complex and diverse challenges and opportunities experienced by AAPI entrepreneurs and engage in conversation around policy and practice strategies for change.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Equality Fund Annual Pride Celebration
Celebrating Pride is an annual tradition for the Equality Fund. Each year, this is a time when we announce new grantees and celebrate our nonprofit partners’ transformative work. It's also a time to recognize our donors’ commitment to the Fund’s mission: to advance the equitable treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals and their families and support Greater Boston nonprofit organizations that serve and strengthen the LGBTQ+ community.
Thursday, June 13th, 2024, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Hiring Skilled Immigrants in Massachusetts: What Employers Need to Know
A new report by UMass Donahue Institute examines the many ways employers can engage with skilled immigrants and reviews the African Bridge Network’s proposed verification process, which seeks to mitigate the hiring of skilled immigrants in MA. The forum reviewed the study's findings and provided a comprehensive status report on local initiatives that support the career advancement of skilled immigrants.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Inequality and Insecurity in Retirement
As part of the Racial Wealth Equity Resource Center initiative, Boston Indicators has partnered with Jeffrey Thompson and Hope Bodenschatz of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to produce Inequality and Insecurity in Retirement, a new report that will be presented and discussed at this release event.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
En Comunidad: A Spring Celebration in East Boston
Featuring live music, food from local businesses, and leaders from over 15 community organizations, TBF hosted a spring community gathering in East Boston. Partners from local East Boston businesses, musicians, and nonprofits all gathered at the beautiful Bremen Street Park for a fun, free, and family-friendly event where neighbors of all ages came together to listen, dance, learn, mingle, and enjoy delicious food together.
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. / Bremen Street Community Park
Racial Wealth Equity Research and Conversation Series - Debt: Exploring Wealth Beyond Assets
The fourth installment in the Boston Indicators' and Boston Fed's Racial Wealth Equity Research and Conversation Series went beyond assets to explore the role of debt in the racial wealth gap. The webinar, "Debt: Exploring Wealth Beyond Assets," took place on May 9, 2024, featuring research from the Aspen Institute’s report "Disparities in Debt: Why Debt is a Driver in the Racial Wealth Gap," presented by researchers Steven Brown and Katherine Lucas McKay.
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Food, Fuel and Shelter Fund Forum
Nonprofit partners in TBF's Food, Fuel and Shelter Fund shared their stories of impact and discussed how philanthropy can work differently to address the spiraling level of demand for basic needs in this thought-provoking conversation at the Edgerley Center for Civic Leadership.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Nurturing Strong Beginnings Coffee & Conversation Unlocking Equity: Bridging the Gap for Families and Communities
The conversation featured four speakers whose work impacts children and families in the Commonwealth, each with different yet complementary approaches to their work, ranging from inequities in maternal health, to housing, education and support for caregivers.
Friday, April 26, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Click here for event video and recap
Shifting Power & Advancing Justice: A Celebration of the Movements and Leaders Shaping Our Collective Future
Thank you for joining us for the Shifting Power and Advancing Justice (SPAJ) partnership launch event where we honored six remarkable leaders who are at the heart of transformative movements! Through this initiative, which aims to uplift movement leaders to reclaim their power and strengthen the communities they serve, we'll provide multi-year funding and resources for these six leaders and their organizations that have critical roles in advancing social justice in Greater Boston. The event featured engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and stories of change and action, offering a space to connect, reflect, and draw inspiration from the individuals and organizations who are redefining our community’s future.
Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
How Can Philanthropy Support Migrant Relief?
On March 27, 2024, The Boston Foundation held a briefing with donors to discuss the current influx of newcomers in Massachusetts. The conversation covered the ways in which philanthropy can support relief for the influx of newcomers from other countries. The conversation explored the numerous obstacles new arrivals face as they try to survive and thrive in our ever-changing region amid challenges such as language barriers, increases in xenophobia, and a lack of cultural understanding. As stated by Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll during our conversation, “government cannot take this on alone,” which is why we hope you will rise to this unique challenge and help us to alleviate the many issues new Bostonians face.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Minding the Gap: Enterprise Wealth
The second event of the Minding the Gap series focused on Enterprise Wealth and the relationship between race, business ownership, and wealth. Due to decades of systemic racism and discrimination from governments, banks, and other financial institutions, people of color have been routinely excluded from the prospect of enterprise ownership, leading to disproportionately low levels of businesses owned and grown in communities of color. This event featured two panel discussions: Business Incubators & Advocates, and Business Owners.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Click here for the event video and recap
2024 State of Early Education and Care Report Release
The 2024 State of Early Education and Care Report, "Strengthening the Foundation: A Profile of Early Childhood Educators in Boston and Beyond," examines the findings of a statewide survey of early education and care providers across Massachusetts and shines a light on the needs of this critical workforce in Boston. These findings illuminate central areas within this vital sector, identifying trends, challenges, and opportunities that shape the experiences of educators and the early learning environments they create.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Global Greater Boston: Immigrants in a Changing Region
For as long as it’s been a city, immigrants have been central to Boston’s identity. For our new report 'Global Greater Boston: Immigrants in a Changing Region,' Boston Indicators partnered with Immigration Research Initiative to analyze who makes up immigrant communities in Greater Boston, quantify what they contribute to our regional economy, and detail the immigration pathways they take to get here. The event included a presentation of report highlights.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Rising Numbers, Unmet Needs
Students who have recently immigrated to the US and are English learners are met with the difficulty of learning English while simultaneously fulfilling the requirements for a high-school diploma. TBF welcomed Brown University's Annenberg Institute on January 31, 2024, for a conversation with experts in the field of education to discuss the unique challenges faced by immigrant newcomers to Massachusetts public schools, building on the Annenberg Institute’s recent report, 'Rising Numbers, Unmet Needs: Immigrant Newcomers in Massachusetts High Schools.'
Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Nurturing Strong Beginnings Coffee & Conversation: What Would It Take to Nurture Strong Beginnings?
Nurturing Strong Beginnings, one of the Boston Foundation's four pathways to equity, relaunched its Coffee and Conversation series on the morning of January 26, 2024. The webinar featured three distinguished experts: Amy O'Leary, Executive Director at Strategies for Children, Dr. Renee Boynton-Jarrett, Founder and CEO of Vital Village Networks, and Dr. Alexy Arauz-Boudreau, Associate Chief of Pediatrics for Primary Care at Mass General Brigham.
Friday, January 26, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Click here for the event video and recap
Criminal Justice Reform in Massachusetts Report Release
On January 24th, 2024, community members gathered in the Edgerly Center for Civic Leadership at the Boston Foundation for the release of Criminal Justice Reform in Massachusetts: A Five-year Progress Assessment. The event included a presentation of highlights from the report, followed by a panel discussion. Written in partnership by researchers at Boston Indicators and MassINC, this is the first systematic look at the impact of two landmark criminal justice reform laws passed in 2018. The report offers recommendations for how MA can build on its progress as it works to counter longstanding challenges.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Racial Wealth Equity Series: Baby Bonds
This virtual event in the Racial Wealth Equity Research and Conversation Series focused on baby bonds and featured Dr. Darrick Hamilton alongside Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell. The event explored Dr. Hamilton’s research on the potential of baby bonds to help narrow the racial wealth gap and advance economic security for all. It also featured a discussion of the nation’s first statewide baby bonds program being rolled out in Connecticut and compared this with similar legislation pending in Massachusetts.
Monday, December 11, 2023, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
#ShopAAPI Night Market
For one special night only, a roster of AAPI-operated small businesses were on hand at a unique Asian-style night market inside the atrium at 75 Arlington/10 St. James in Back Bay with holiday gifts, delectable treats and other festive items! Continue your holiday shopping and support local AAPI-owned businesses by shopping at these vendors with the #shopAAPI Holiday Shopping Guide linked below.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Learn more about this public event
Minding the Gap, Part 1: Land Wealth
The first of the Boston Foundation’s Racial Wealth Gap Event Series, “Minding the Gap: Land Wealth,” focused on the role race and wealth have had in the distribution, allocation, and protection of land in our country. Ranging from the creation and enforcement of restrictive land use regulations, such as zoning laws, to the lack of investment in and prioritization of available public goods, the racial wealth gap has played a role in how land is used and who gets to benefit from it.
Thursday, November 30, 2023, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Color of the Capital Gap: An Update and Discussion
This Color of the Capital Gap forum featured a presentation of the latest data on the local disparities in capital access for entrepreneurs of color and a candid discussion with mission financing institutions that are working hard to close the gap.
Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Pathways to Equity: The 2023 Boston Foundation Annual Meeting
On November 16, more than 300 people packed the Edgerley Center for Civic Leadership and our office space for the 2023 Annual Meeting. Featuring food from TBF nonprofit partner NECAT, a wonderful musical performance from Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music and Arts' Youth Choir, and with the 12 remarkable people featured in our Annual Report as special guests, we celebrated our new brand, our renewed focus on equity, and the nonprofits, donors and community partners who power of collective work.
Thursday, November 16, 2023, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2023
Greater Boston faces a crippling housing shortage, the effects of which are most destabilizing for moderate- and low-income families and families of color in the region. The Greater Boston Housing Report Card highlighted how the region has been falling behind on housing production, and how housing cost burdens have been increasing, making rental housing and homeownership increasingly unaffordable.
Tuesday, November 14th, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Click here for video and recap.jpg?h=346&w=615&la=en&hash=3E3F2B049E338EF49B6A885527F2CA53)
Building Community Power Through Grassroots Philanthropy
TBF President & CEO Lee Pelton joined the leaders of our three Equity Funds – Scott Knox, Javier Juarez, and Danielle Kim – with grantees from these funds – for a rich conversation about amplifying community power for our most marginalized communities and advancing a shared vision for grassroots philanthropy.
Thursday, November 9, 2023, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Exclusionary by Design: Zoning as a Tool of Race, Class and Family Exclusion
As part of a new Racial Wealth Equity Research Center initiative, Boston Indicators commissioned Amy Dain, among the region’s leading zoning experts, to research and write Exclusionary by Design: An Investigation of Zoning’s Use as a Tool of Race, Class, and Family Exclusion in Boston’s Suburbs, 1920 to Today. Based on extensive review of local planning documents, state reports, and press coverage over the past 100 years, the report finds widespread use of zoning as a tool of social exclusion against residents of color, especially Black residents; lower-income and working-class residents; families with school-aged children; religious minorities; immigrants; and, in some cases, any newcomers/outsiders at all.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action: Exploring Potential Implications & Opportunities for Nonprofits
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling effectively ending affirmative action in college admissions has rippled across sectors, prompting nonprofit, corporate, and government leaders to examine potential impacts on their constituents, employees, programming, and missions. While the implications are not yet fully known, the nonprofit sector and its allies face a pivotal moment and opportunity to come together to continue to advance commitments to building a more just and equitable society.
Wednesday, October 11th, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
A Long Road Home Report Release
Policies have systematically denied opportunities to Black households and other households of color, dramatically driving the racial wealth gap and entrenching the hurdles for some populations to accumulate wealth. At this event, Boston Indicators released the new report, A Long Road Home, which explores the existing landscape of programs and policies in Massachusetts to support homeowners—many of which are national models—and how we can build on this foundation to continue addressing these discriminatory policies and practices and pushing toward equity.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
