With crucial support from our annual campaign for the Civic Leadership Fund, we work with partners in the business and nonprofit communities, as well as numerous public officials, to have a real impact on issues that are critical to the economic competitiveness and civic health of Greater Boston. We consider this civic leadership—especially bringing together analysts, problem solvers and funders to understand and act on matters of local concern—to be core to our mission.
Each year, generous donors make this civic leadership work possible through their donations to the Civic Leadership Fund. In 2017-2018, more than 400 individuals, companies and organizations donated to the Fund, supporting our research, convenings and communications, informing our grantmaking, and helping us better utilize the Permanent Fund for Boston to provide funds, meeting space, and other resources to Greater Boston nonprofits.
147
Reports published since 2001, including nearly 100 "Understanding Boston" series reports
205
Public Understanding Boston forums held since 2001
44,000
People have attended Understanding Boston forums since the series inception
The Civic Leadership Fund has supported more than a decade of research, advocacy and policy work that has driven significant changes in the Massachusetts criminal justice system, including CORI Reform and improved equity and justice in sentencing.
"The Boston Foundation's clear and focused civic leadership is more important than ever to solving our local and regional challenges."
A conversation with Harvard university President Lawrence Bacow kicked off the 2018-2019 annual campaign, which is being co-chaired by philanthropist Jill Shah and Boston Foundation Director Brian Conway.
The Boston Foundation also sponsors Boston Indicators, which provides a comprehensive, constantly-updated body of information about key aspects of life in Greater Boston through groundbreaking reports and a dynamic website.
Recent reports on economic mobility, the status of the state's LGBTQ community and explorations of Latinos and millennials in Greater Boston have received extensive coverage and informed the discussion of critical issues.
Contact Manager of the Annual Campaign Sasha Zuflacht to learn more about the Civic Leadership Fund.
In fiscal year 2018, the Boston Foundation released some of the most influential reports in its 15 years of civic leadership, presented at Understanding Boston forums, covered widely in local media and read and referenced by civic leaders across the state.
Recent reports and videos are listed below. You can access all of the Foundation’s reports and watch archived videos of forums at News + Insights.
We invite you to join us for upcoming events and forums.