Save the date for our 2023 Annual Convening October 18-20! This event is exclusively designed for funders and grantmakers working on the island. Join us as sector leaders, disruptors, and innovators come together to explore transformational practices that are reshaping the landscape of giving.
October 18-20, 2023
@ Caribe Hilton, San Juan PRAs the main connector within the philanthropic ecosystem of the archipelago, we have been actively preparing for this event. Throughout the year, we have sustained spaces that promote conversations and drive actions, aiming to better support organizations within the realities of Puerto Rico. This year we are designing an experience to expand our individual perspectives and embrace diversity, allowing us to strategically address complex challenges and align our collective efforts. That’s why we are calling our annual convening: Expand to Align Collective Action.
It’s time for us to broaden our network and contribute valuable resources, expertise, and diverse perspectives towards our collective action. By coming together, we can make a significant impact in advancing equity in Puerto Rico.
More details coming soon! In the meantime, if you have any questions or need assistance regarding the program or logistics, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Anja Paonessa: [email protected].
Our program features amazing keynote speakers, interactive workshops, groundbreaking research releases, networking opportunities, and much more.
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We are actively working on the planning process! Explore our preliminary agenda and sessions, and stay tuned for new weekly updates.
Wednesday, October 18
8:30am - 9:00am Registration & Breakfast
9:00am - 9:30am Welcome to our annual convening
9:30am - 11:00pm Commonwealth of Calamity: Learning from Puerto Rico’s Disaster History
11:00pm - 12:30pm Puerto Rico Socio Demographic Insight
12:30pm - 1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm - 3:00pm Agriculture in Puerto Rico: a Statistical Perspective
3:00pm - 4:15pm Housing Sector: characteristics of the economy and post-disaster context
4:15pm -5:00pm Short Term Rentals: Impact on the economy, communities and housing sector
Thursday, October 19
8:30am - 9:30am Registration, Breakfast & Welcome
9:30am - 11:00am Puerto Rico in the 2020 Census: Ethnicity and Race Reporting
11:00am - 12:30pm Pathways to leveraging the federal tax credits for solar in Puerto Rico
12:30pm - 1:30pm Lunch
12:30pm - 1:30pm Optional Session: Filantropía Puerto Rico's Annual Meeting
1:30pm - 3:00pm Blended Capital to address complex challenges and drive sustainable development
3:00pm - 4:00pm Break
4:00pm - 7:30pm Una tarde de Filantropía!
Commonwealth of Calamity: Learning from Puerto Rico’s Disaster History
By examining key disasters throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries as case studies, this session showcases how learning from history can inform better practices of present-day collective action.
Ian Seavey
Ian Seavey
Predoctoral Fellow in International Security Studies at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs and PhD candidate in the department of history at Texas A&M University
His research examines U.S. empire in the Caribbean through the lens of disaster relief, environmental policy, and rum production. His dissertation and subsequent book manuscript, “Colonial Calamities: The Politics of U.S. Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico, 1898-1979,” tells the story of how evolving ideas about disaster relief fundamentally shaped and continue to shape the colonial relationship between the Puerto Rico and the United States. He has published articles in a variety of venues including the Journal of Advanced Military Studies, AHA Perspectives, and the Journal of Environmental Hazards. His research has been funded by the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, the Albritton Center for Grand Strategy, and Yale’s Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar in various heavy metal bands.
Puerto Rico Socio Demographic Insight
Understanding socio demographic data is fundamental for informed decision-making, effective policy formulation, equitable resource distribution, and the overall development and well-being of a country’s population. In this session, we will discuss the latest demographic trends.
Alberto Velázquez
Alberto Velázquez, Instituto de Estadísticas
Alberto Velázquez Estrada is a member of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics team, serving as Senior Project Manager. Since 2013, he has been coordinating projects such as the State Data Center Program - Census Data and Information Centers chapter for Puerto Rico, the Migrant Profile, and representing Puerto Rico in the Federal State Cooperative for Population Estimates of the U.S. Census Bureau, among other demographic and geographic projects. He earned a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with a concentration in Geography from the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico and a master's degree in Demography from the Graduate School of Public Health at the Medical Sciences Campus of the same institution. Upon completing his graduate studies, he worked as an intern at the Demographic Surveys Division of the U.S. Census Bureau and as a coordinator and data analyst in the Ryan White Program at the Department of Health of Puerto Rico.
Agriculture in Puerto Rico: a Statistical Perspective
This presentation discusses Puerto Rico’s agriculture and food security in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It covers the historical importance of agriculture, Puerto Rico’s agricultural legacy, current challenges, and past agricultural reforms in the region.
Dr. Francisco Pesante
Dr. Francisco Pesante González
Dr. Francisco Pesante González is a project manager and coordinator of the Academies and Workshops Program at the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. He has worked at this agency for the past 13 years and has co-authored publications such as the Interactive Profile of Child Abuse, the Human Development Report, and the 2015 Food Security Report in Puerto Rico, among others. Prior to this role, he was an Analyst in Management and Planning at the Department of Justice. He completed a doctorate in history, specializing in the topic of agrarian public policies in 20th-century Puerto Rico.
Housing Sector: characteristics of the economy and post-disaster context
We will delve into the current post-disaster landscape, with a focus on key information sources. This exploration will encompass an overview of the economic and housing sectors’ essential attributes within this context. Additionally, we will examine pertinent variables of interest and sources of data, culminating in an interactive question and answer session.
Deepak Lamba-Nieves
Short Term Rentals: Impact on the economy, communities and housing sector
In this presentation, we’ll explore the findings of a study on short-term rentals in Puerto Rico, focusing on their significant impact on the economy, communities, and individuals.
Charlotte Gossett Navarro
Puerto Rico in the 2020 Census: Ethnicity and Race Reporting
We continue to examine the census data, which helps identify disparities and inequalities in society based on factors like age, gender, ethnicity, income, and education. This knowledge is vital for promoting social inclusion and advocating for policies that promote equality.
Merarys Rios-Vargas
Merarys Rios-Vargas
Chief, Ethnicity and Ancestry Branch, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau
Jessica Peña
Jessica Peña
Senior Researcher in the Race/Ethnicity Research & Outreach Area in the Population Division
Pathways to leveraging the federal tax credits for solar in Puerto Rico
Discussing philanthropic strategies for solar solutions is crucial for addressing energy access, climate change, and equity, especially concerning the $1 billion Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund and its potential to drive sustainable energy and innovation in Puerto Rico.
Joe Evans
Joe Evans
Portfolio Director and Social Investment Officer, Kresge Foundation
Joe Evans is the portfolio director and social investment officer at The Kresge Foundation’s Social Investment Practice. He oversees various types of investments that align with Kresge's mission, including loans, guarantees, deposits, and equity investments. Joe is dedicated to originating, structuring, and finalizing new investments in line with responsible social investment practices, applicable regulations, and foundation priorities. He joined the foundation in 2014 after more than a decade of experience in organizational development, nonprofit business planning, and social investing with a prominent consulting firm.
In addition to his consulting background, Joe has served in various roles, including as an executive at a community action agency and as the director of lending for a community development financial institution focused on housing and education for individuals with disabilities and their families. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Southern Connecticut State University.
Optional Session: Filantropía Puerto Rico's Annual Meeting
We’ll provide an overview of FiPR’s key accomplishments and efforts aimed at advancing meaningful social investments.
Glenisse Pagán
Anja Paonessa
Richard Códova
Blended Capital to address complex challenges and drive sustainable development
Blended capital involves strategically combining various types of funding, including public, private, and philanthropic, to generate both social and environmental impact while also aiming for financial returns—a promising approach in financing to tackle intricate challenges and foster sustainable development.
Eduardo Carrera
Let’s Lean in to Co-Create
We’ll kick off our Annual Convening 2022 with a workshop of why we are ready to Lean In. We believe that it’s time to share those experiences and find ourselves in other people’s stories.
Glenisse Pagán
Glenisse Pagán Ortiz
Executive Director, Filantropía Puerto Rico
Glenisse was born, raised and lives in Puerto Rico where she leads a multi-passionate life learning, teaching, challenging others and being challenged. She also loves technology, nature, adventure, but above all, she lives to inspire people to take action and to help them find their purpose.
Anja Paonessa
Anja Paonessa
Membership & Operations Officer, Filantropía Puerto Rico
Trust-Based Philanthropy Practices
In these times of dramatic change, as grantmakers we have a responsibility to examine our decision-making practices to see how they have contributed to systemic inequalities and how they contribute to a more just and equitable social sector.
Alexandra Hertell
Alexandra designs, implements, and directs all strategic components of the Segarra Boerman Foundation, Inc. Alexandra practices trust-based philanthropy, worked as a grantwriter for Beta-Local, and held a Fordham University fellowship to design and develop curriculum of environmental law for a public school in NYC.
Mynor Veliz
Mynor Alejandro Veliz
Chief Financial Officer, Headwaters Foundation
Networker, broker, spreadsheets guru and finder of best prices on anything, anywhere. Mynor (AKA Alejandro) brings more than a decade of progressive experience in financial stewardship, accounting leadership and operations management within the health and medical services sector. He has been consistently recognized not only for his financial acumen but also for his ability to apply a collaborative, modern leadership style to get employees fired up about their mission and working together in new and collaborative ways. Originally from Guatemala, Mynor holds a bachelor’s degree in business finance, a master’s degree in business administration and he is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Leadership Development Program. An avid long-distance runner and world traveler, Mynor lives in Missoula with his wife, daughter, and son.
Strength through Solidarity - Management Commons and the Future of Nonprofit Resource Sharing
Fiscal sponsorship is leading the way in promoting diversity, equity, and more efficient and inclusive access to backbone services and philanthropic resources. Funders are playing a critical role in the growth of the fiscal sponsorship field.
Colibri Sanfiorenzo
Colibrí Sanfiorenzo-Barnhard
HASER, Executive Director
Colibrí has a background in ecology and administration. For the past 13 years, she has worked in the nonprofit sector with community groups that develop education, conservation, and cultural grassroots actions in Puerto Rico. She is co-founder of HASER. Her background in action-based field ecology research, and her experience with diverse community groups have shaped her vision for social change in Puerto Rico, which focuses on understanding that just and equitable actions done at neighborhood level can cause meaningful global change.
Josh Sattely
Josh Sattely
Chief Legal Steward, Social Impact Commons
Josh believes all social good initiatives deserve turnkey and equitable access to the nonprofit infrastructure they need to thrive. Josh manages the legal affairs of Social Impact Commons and works with our organization members to craft practical solutions to meet their evolving legal needs. Immediately prior to Social Impact Commons, Josh led the multifamily housing and nonprofit program at the NH Community Loan Fund and before that, spent 10 years providing legal support to TSNE MissionWorks (f.k.a. Third Sector New England), the first and one of the largest fiscal sponsors in the nation. Josh earned his Juris Doctor at Vermont Law School and LLM in Commerce and Technology at the University of New Hampshire School of Law.
Thaddeus Squire
Thaddeus Squire
Chief Commons Steward, Social Impact Commons
Thaddeus has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit management field, focusing on arts and cultural heritage. Following government relations work for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, he went on to found Peregrine Arts, a multi-arts producer, and Hidden City Philadelphia, among other curatorial projects. His significant work in nonprofit resource sharing began in 2010 as founder of CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia, the first comprehensive fiscal sponsor focusing on arts and heritage, which manages more than 120 independent organizations. Thaddeus’s creative practice is focused on systems design for nonprofit resource sharing, in particular practices based in commoning and commons management principles. His work is grounded in the fields of American Pragmatism, Common Pool Resource Economics, Cooperative Management, New Localism and the Applied Behavioral Sciences. Additionally, he has deep expertise in the history of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, nonprofit management, fine and performing arts, heritage preservation, and museum sciences. Thaddeus holds degrees from Princeton University, the University of Leipzig (J. William Fulbright Fellowship), and the Mendelssohn Conservatory of Music & Theatre.
Learning to Listen: Workshop to Co-Create
Through this session, we want to encourage entities to reflect on the collective they seek to support by critically analyzing the experiences and lessons learned by Filantropía Puerto Rico through the “Learning to Listen” project.
Lyvia N. Rodríguez Del Valle
Lyvia N. Rodríguez, El Enjambre
Lyvia is an urban and regional planner who has worked for 28 years in issues related to the right to the city, risk management, collective land tenure as a means to prevent displacement in self-built settlements, and participatory action-planning. She was the founding executive director of the internationally renowned Proyecto ENLACE del Caño Martín Peña, and the innovative, World Habitat Award recipient Fideicomiso de la Tierra del Caño Martín Peña.
As cofounder of El Enjambre, Lyvia accompanies organizations striving to strengthen their grassroots work as it connects to wider issues. She continues to explore the regularization of self-built settlements through collective land tenure and just transitions as a strategy of adaptation to climate change. Occasionally, Lyvia teaches at the Graduate School of Planning, University of Puerto Rico.
Alejandro Cotte
Alejandro Cotte
Co-Founder, El Enjambre
Alejandro Cotté Morales is a community social worker with 27 years of experience. He obtained a doctorate degree in Social Policy from the Graduate School of Social Work of the University of Puerto Rico, where he is an adjunct professor.
He has researched and published works on the politics of violence and crime, on community organization and participation. Alejandro has been a consultant to governmental and non-governmental entities, in the development of leadership skills, community organization in neighborhoods and public housing, and in the conceptualization and execution of projects and programs.
Together with other professionals and community leaders, he has successfully forged comprehensive community development projects, examples of which are the Martín Peña Caño Land Trust and the Martín Peña Caño ENLACE Project. It should be noted that the Trust received the World Habitat Award from the United Nations and in addition, the Enlace Project was distinguished as an Inspirational Practice of the New Urban Agenda (UN-Habitat), among other awards.
Alejandro has supervised professional practice programs in social work administration and community social work at the University of Puerto Rico, and has mentored dozens of interns. He is the recipient of the Recognition of his Commitment to Professional Service and Community Social Work (College of Social Work Professionals) and the Youth of the Year Award in Civic and Sports Leadership (UNESCO-Puerto Rico). His personal experiences, having been raised in a public housing project in San Juan, his academic training and experience enrich his professional practice.
Funders Alignment in Response of Disaster Recovery
As grantmakers we have the mission to continue supporting the efforts of the social sector by joining strategies, objectives and specific actions within us.
Glenisse Pagán
Glenisse Pagán Ortiz
Executive Director, Filantropía Puerto Rico
Glenisse was born, raised and lives in Puerto Rico where she leads a multi-passionate life learning, teaching, challenging others and being challenged. She also loves technology, nature, adventure, but above all, she lives to inspire people to take action and to help them find their purpose.
Collective Reimagining
Together we will explore how the commitment to “Collective Reimagining” can support the Filantropia network’s with generating more equitable opportunities and outcomes in Puerto Rico.
Bianca Casanova Anderson
Bianca Casavoca Anderson
Co-CEO, ProInspire
Bianca Casanova Anderson, educator, nonprofit leader, and social justice practitioner, with expertise in interpersonal communication, racial equity facilitation, and human development. As an educator for almost a decade, Ms. Anderson found her passion for human-centered change in the classroom. She built a unique background by cultivating inclusive learning environments that center relationships, uplift marginalized voices, and disrupt racism. As the founding Director for the Dallas-Fort Worth site of the Center for Racial Justice in Education, she trained and advised over 3,000 community leaders and educators around the nation in effective racial equity policies, practices, and procedures.
In 2021, Bianca was promoted to Co-CEO, where she supports nonprofit organizations and foundations by leading a portfolio of training programs and services that center race equity and leadership development.
Most importantly, Bianca loves people. She lives and leads through a lens of radical love, deep inquiry, and transformative justice. She is committed to creating spaces where every person feels safe, smart, and significant.
Rachel Leonidas
Rachel Leonidas
Senior Communications Manager, ProInspire
Rachel Leonidas is a marketing and advancement professional, with a decade of experience in elevating brands, engaging donors, and managing programs for non-profit organizations on a range of issues including closing the achievement gap to addressing food insecurity in school-age children.
Rachel joined the ProInspire team in March 2021 and proudly serves as the Senior Communications Manager. Prior to ProInspire, Rachel spent six years impacting education in the public charter school sector with a career highlight of helping to establish Washington DC’s first school-based My Brother’s Keeper program at Paul Public Charter School.
In 2016, Rachel directed her experience to raise awareness and resources, to help families still rebuilding from the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Her campaign resulted in over seven successful impact trips rendering medical support and establishing a sustainable food ecosystem for nearing schools in the remote regions of Les Cayes, Haiti. In 2019, Rachel moved to southern Africa and spent a year living and working on similar projects in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Rachel holds a Bachelor’s and Master of Arts in Communication and Public Affairs from Columbus State and Bowie State University respectively. Rachel is also an educator who teaches interpersonal, intercultural, and public speaking courses to first-generation college students.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Rachel grew up in a bustling household with eight siblings. She is a proud Haitian-American whose humble upbringing keeps her grounded and committed to the work of accelerating equity.
José Ortiz Pagán
José Ortiz Pagán
Consultant, ProInspire
José Ortiz-Pagán is a Puerto Rican multi-disciplinary artist and cultural organizer residing in Philadelphia. Ortiz-Pagan creates platforms to question, activate, heal, and consider alternative options for a hopeful future. The use of visions, rituals, crafting, gatherings, games, installations and more serve as strategies to consult and activate community power while negotiating their cultural presence in the context of the transitional and migratorial.
As part of his career José has developed and orchestrated various community based projects around Philadelphia including La Sombrilla Block Party, part of the Heat Response project in South Philly which sought to understand how art could bring solutions to heat impact, A Solitary Procession in which he collaborated with artists, activists and organizations to create a ritual that allowed local folks to mourn their loved ones in dignity. This process resulted in Ortiz-Pagan creating a large-scale suit called “El Vinculo” to play the role of a spirit of death walking across the city of Philadelphia. Currently he is working with Taller Puertorriqueno in the initiative Memorializing Fairhill, which seeks to create a series of monuments celebrating the history of activism and struggle in the Fairhill neighborhood.
Most recently, Ortiz-Pagán was selected to be the recipient of the Artworks grant given by the Philadelphia Foundation & the Forman Arts Initiative which recognizes the work of community based artists.
As a curator José Ortiz-Pagan has been responsible for projects that include; Portales, the most recent survey of work of the renowned artist Samuel Lind, and which focuses on the juncture between his spiritual framework and how it impacted his local culture of his local community in Loiza, Puerto Rico.
His artwork has been featured in several exhibitions including; Atolón, a solo show at the Art Gallery of the Sagrado Corazón University in Puerto Rico, The Trienal Poligráfica in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the International Printmaking Biennial in Taiwan ROC, the Bronx Latin American Biennial, among others. In addition to his studio and curatorial practice, Ortiz-Pagán has been a lecturer at Temple University, the Barnes Foundation and Haverford College.
Recent Outlook on Endowments
A conversation on the effects the changing market environment has on endowments.
Hector González
Héctor Gonzaléz, CPA, CFA
Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch in San Juan
Héctor González currently works as Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor for Merrill Lynch in San Juan where he specializes in providing investment advice for nonprofit institutions and affluent investors.
He has been actively involved in the Puerto Rico Certified Public Accountants Chapter, where he has served in several committees and in the board of directors. Additionally, Héctor served as Treasurer of Habitat for Humanity from 2009 through 2011. Blending his passion to serve Puerto Rico and his interest for the arts, Héctor chaired the audit committee for the School of Fine Arts and Design in Puerto Rico from 2015 to 2017.
In 2016 he was invited and currently serves on the development committee of the Puerto Rico Community Foundation, where he collaborates in the strategy and execution for fund raising efforts. On December 2017 he joined the Board of Asesores Financieros Comunitarios where he currently serves in its executive committee. He frequently visits high schools and universities in Puerto Rico where he facilitates a dialogue on the importance of financial planning, government finances, socially responsible investing, strategic philanthropy and the interplay among these.
On 2020 he was awarded the distinguished CPA in community service award and in that same year he was also selected among thousands of nominees to the Global volunteer award of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Peer Groups: Our People at the Center
As grantmakers we need to continue listening among peers in the ecosystem to share experiences, perspectives, interests and strategize together to further advance the mission and agenda for the social sector.
Dayani Centeno Torres
Dayani Centeno Torres
Voz Activa
Dayani is a licensed professional relationist in Puerto Rico. She has specialized her practice in communication for social change and community outreach strategies, supporting both businesses and non-profit organizations.
In addition to attending her public relations practice, Dayani leads the organization Voz Activa, which supports community projects focused on solidarity economy and citizen participation. From Active Voice facilitates dialogue processes aimed at the transformation of groups and organizations. To do this, it uses tools from Theory U, Strategic Doing and Nonviolent Communication, among other methodologies that facilitate listening and collaboration.
Centeno Torres with several certifications in Theory U from the Presencing Institute at MIT, and is the only Caribbean graduate of the Ecosystem Leadership Program of the Presencing Institute (Germany, 2019), a global training program on systemic change.
She is part of the Latin American team of Theory U in Spanish, through which she has connected with projects and agents of change in the region. He also belongs to the board of directors of the Institute for Agroecology in Puerto Rico.
Anja Paonessa
Anja Paonessa
Membership & Operations Officer, Filantropía Puerto Rico
Innovating: The why and what of co-creation
This final session will focus on co creating the future of our collective. We will share FiPR future plans and unpack the different ways we come together that inspire us to innovate the present and future of Puerto Rico.
Glenisse Pagán
Executive Director, Filantropía Puerto Rico
Glenisse was born, raised and lives in Puerto Rico where she leads a multi-passionate life learning, teaching, challenging others and being challenged. She also loves technology, nature, adventure, but above all, she lives to inspire people to take action and to help them find their purpose.
Anja Paonessa
Anja Paonessa
Membership & Operations Officer, Filantropía Puerto Rico
FiPR’s Guide to Puerto Rico
Nothing excites us more than knowing that there are people interested in getting to know our island! Which is why our FiPR team has assembled a list of places in Puerto Rico where you can host events or meetings, as well as places to eat and have fun.
Culture, Participation & Privacy Guidelines
We want you to experience our annual convening as a chance to continue building our philanthropic community by enabling collaborative discussions that allow diverse grantmakers to work together and scale up their impact in Puerto Rico. Discussions should be lively, yet respectful, and always seek to bridge the gaps between diverse opinions, cultures, interests, and backgrounds, while staying focused on our mission to improve the lives of the marginalized.
You may tag us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, and use the #convenePR hashtag so other attendees can find your posts.
Sessions might be recorded for archival purposes and available for our members.
This content is for FiPR use only and may appear on our website, newsletter, social media pages, or future promotional material.
While fundraising is prohibited, we do encourage you to share what you learn and to refrain from doing so if the speakers explicitly request confidentiality.
Please abide by our Culture, Participation & Privacy Policy.
COVID-19 Guidelines
Vaccination and masks are not required. The meeting room should allow us to be comfortably spaced. We understand that there will be a mix of perspectives and needs among group members, and we trust that we can all respect and support that diversity.
