DFN at a Glance

History

• Evolved from Funding Partnership for People with Disabilities, a grantmakers collaborative created in 1990 to assist implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• Formally established in 1994

• Legally incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization in 2005

• Read the full story: History of DFN

Mission

• To increase the extent and effectiveness of grantmaking that benefits people with disabilities

• To promote inclusion of people with disabilities in effective philanthropy

• Understand DFN better: DFN’s Mission

Challenge

• In 2002, major foundation giving awarded only $465.7 million – 2.9 percent of total grant dollars – to programs for people with disabilities, versus $4.2 billion to education programs, $2.9 billion to health programs and $1.9 billion to arts and culture programs.

• Most grantmakers regard disability as a health issue, not as a diversity issue that fits any inclusive grantmaking program.

Current Initiatives

• Inclusion
• Human Rights
• Poverty
• Sexuality
• U.N. Convention
• Teleconferences
• Foundation Center
• Emergency Preparedness
• Ticket to Work
• Grantmaker Forums on Disability Policy

Membership

• Networking with grantmakers and disability experts
• Information and publications
• Professional development
• Technical assistance
• Discounts on resources from other organizations
• Learn about more DFN membership benefits
• Join DFN

Testimonials

FISA Foundation has been a member of the Disability Funders Network for over ten years. DFN offers invaluable resources that have helped us raise the capacity of our disability-related grants, provides connections to other funding partners, and fosters a better understanding of the true meaning of inclusion. Thank you, DFN, for serving as a “one-stop shop” for disability consultation!

Governance

• Board of directors: 9 volunteers elected from membership
• Who serves on DFN’s board; DFN’s staff