AmerisourceBergen Foundation virtual conference shares nonprofit partners' best practices

The AmerisourceBergen Foundation this summer brought together more than 60 nonprofit partners and peers during a virtual conference to facilitate collaboration, share best practices and learn from one another.

The event focused on developing strategies to address some of the most difficult issues impacting society today, including pandemic resilience, social justice and racial equality, health and community improvement.

“From our very beginnings six years ago, the AmerisourceBergen Foundation set out to make investments in local communities with goal of improving the health and well-being of humans and animals around the globe. We’ve remained steadfast in that commitment – it’s what inspires and motivates us every day and it’s ingrained into everything we do,” said Gina Clark, AmerisourceBergen Foundation president. “To affect real action, however, we must stay connected with our nonprofit peers – even virtually – to collaborate, inspire and ultimately foster relationships for an even greater impact. The AmerisourceBergen Foundation Conference creates a space for us to amplify our collective impact and create healthier futures.”

During the conference, attendees participated in a series of panels, presentations and discussions geared toward enriching the health of the global community. Eleven nonprofit partners across a variety of different sectors presented brief case studies that outlined how they’ve used recent funding to support health-related causes and provide community resources.

Marc DeCourcey, who serves as senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and leads its Corporate Citizenship Center, delivered the conference’s keynote on the landscape of corporate citizenship and philanthropy.

Conference attendees also heard from AmerisourceBergen Foundation’s Grantmaking Committee about the organization’s path forward as it relates to social justice and racial equality.

Earlier this month, the AmerisourceBergen Foundation made an initial philanthropic commitment to support organizations working on anti-racism, empowerment of diverse communities and rebuilding cities, including the Equal Justice Initiative, The Memorial Foundation, Urban Affairs Coalition, Community Foundations, National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation, and Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.

“ICIC is grateful for AmerisourceBergen and the AmerisourceBergen Foundation’s ongoing leadership on a number of issues that are of critical importance in these unprecedented times – and most recently for their grant to help us continue to fight for social and economic justice,” said Liz Pugh, ICIC director of development. “Time and time again, the Foundation has risen to the top of the pack as being true to its values and leveraging resources to make our communities more just and equitable.”

Additionally, the Foundation Board, Grantmaking Committee and staff made a commitment during the conference to examine practices and policies while working with grantees to ensure that equity is woven throughout all its work.

Conference attendees also participated in a panel discussion that offered insights from fellow nonprofit leaders about the innovative and purpose-driven ways philanthropic organizations are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and around the globe. Panel participants from Americares, Direct Relief, Sostento and the United Ways of Tennessee shared candid perspective about how they are implementing new programs, overcoming challenges and collaborating with other grantees to strengthen their community outreach and impact.