EDGE’s membership includes a diverse range of donors from across the globe, from small family foundations and women’s funds to large private and corporate foundations.
This distinctive composition, combined with ongoing engagement with global justice Movements, sets EDGE apart from other peer funder networks and strengthens its ability to organize for long-lasting changes in philanthropy as we know it.
BENEFITS OF BEING AN EDGE MEMBER
Being Part of a Genuine Community
EDGE members enjoy an array of opportunities to build trust with peers on a similar journey, both online and offline for a deeper understanding of key issues, collaboration on programmes and continued commitment to systemic change.
Leadership & Opportunities for influencing Peers
EDGE members actively shape the network through multiple leadership pathways, including the Board, Council, Regional Steering Groups, and other governance and advisory roles. Members also lead and contribute to peer conversations, sharing ideas that influence peers in the sector. Through member-only listservs, monthly updates spotlighting members, and ample member-led spaces, members gain access to spaces for ongoing dialogue, learning, and collective analysis with grantmaker colleagues.
Learning & Organizing Spaces
Participation in – and opportunities to help lead members’ spaces like PODs, regional retreats, webinars, engagement labs and issues-based collaboratives.
In-person Events Every Year
Our engagement is not only through Zoom. Members get priority access and reduced registration fees for our global conferences as well as regional retreats and local meetings in members’ cities.
And More!
The EDGE Team is committed to provide personalized support to our members, including one-to-one check-ins, and a high-touch staff committed to supporting members.
ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP AND FIRST STEPS WITHIN THE EDGE COMMUNITY
You are welcome to join us if you are a:
Community foundation
Private foundation
Family foundation
Public foundation, regranting
organization, intermediary funder
or activist-led fund
Corporate Foundation
Individual donor
THE JOURNEY OF AN EDGE MEMBER
EDGE staff’s screening for
mission-alignment &
commitment to organizing
Members are welcomed into
the EDGE community to
build relationships and trust
They listen to Movement
partners and are challenged
with new ideas on progressive
philanthropy and systemic
change alternatives
Relying on community &
with sharpened political
education, members can
leverage their power to align
practice with values and are
supported to influence
others in the sector.
MEMBERSHIP FEES
Membership fees are self-selected. EDGE Funders sets annual dues levels based on a foundation’s self-evaluated size and capacity to contribute. Most highly active members also contribute larger grant support to EDGE Funders for our services and activities.
We understand and appreciate that many of our members are non-endowed/fundraising foundations and we value members’ engagement in financial and non-financial ways.
We invite our members to choose the membership amount that feels appropriate.
Ready to become
a member?
EDGE network is growing at the speed of trust. For our team and community, it is really important to build meaningful relationships with prospective members, which is why we’d love to have some conversations with you prior to joining our network.
Contact us here and let us know something about
yourself and the organization, and we will promptly reach out to you to schedule a meeting.