Carleton Weitz Fellows | June 30, 2026
Weitz Insights
Power Sharing | August 27, 2026
Grantee Gathering: Desert Blooms
This blog is estimated to take 2 minutes to read.
We may live in the Great Plains, but that certainly did not stop us from having a cact-astic time at our fifth annual Grantee Gathering: Desert Blooms! When planning this year’s event, I kept thinking about how challenging this decade has been thus far for our nonprofit teams and community overall: a devastating pandemic, federal funding cuts, attacks on human rights on top of tense social and political climates. Yet, even in such an arid environment, people persevere. They move, they grow, they bloom in harsh conditions. To witness such spirit and strength exhibited by our partners and those they serve is inspiring. Our aim for this year’s Gathering was to honor that resilience and celebrate grantees in an uplifting atmosphere where folks could network, create, and be joyful.
Grantee Gathering: Desert Blooms was sand-sational! The Scene’s newly opened venue provided an awesome aesthetic to complement our theme. Partners were able to enjoy a tasty lunch from Masa Luna as well as sweet treats from The Churro Spot and Conscious Comforts. We also featured a signature mocktail for the first time with Desert Sunrise: lemon-lime soda, orange juice, and grenadine syrup—try it and thank me later! Dreamy Displays’ balloon décor added further vibrance to the space that Maria Julie’s photography portrayed beautifully. Activities like Cactus Creations (succulent pot painting), Desert Dazzle (bracelet-making), and Blooming Bonds (custom appreciation card crafting) allowed attendees to lean into their imaginative side. We even had a designated de-stress puppy corner with friendly dogs available for adoption through Hands, Hearts, and Paws.
This year’s short program emphasized the significance of our theme, application updates, and opportunities for engagement. One of our team’s favorite things was hiding mini succulent figurines with affirming messages throughout the venue for folks to find—and one of my particular delights was hearing partners express appreciation for each other. Similar to the Las Culturistas’ podcast segment, “I Don’t Think So, Honey,” we also did a round of “Not in My Oasis!” Flat sodas? Outside clothes on the bed? Family members leaving their laundry around? Not in our oasis! This Grantee Gathering’s Networking Bingo game certainly had the most zeal, it was energizing to see people so engaged with each other and distribute prizes—gift cards to local shops and restaurants—to the winners!
Regarding Grantee Gathering: Desert Blooms, one person noted in our feedback survey:
The event provided a valuable opportunity to learn from others, build connections, and gain new perspectives. As someone who is naturally more introverted, I especially appreciated the welcoming environment and the variety of opportunities to engage with fellow attendees.
Another grantee shared this about their experience:
Exceptional! The time I spent networking was returned manifold to me. I can’t put a price on what I learned just from the opportunity to connect with my peers!
Related to collaborations, someone wrote:
I had a wonderful time networking and have since set up five meetings as a result of conversations in that room.
A pair of partners expressed:
Again, it just can’t be overstated how special this annual event is and how appreciated we feel for the work we do in the community as a result. Thank you so much for… making this a welcoming, encouraging, and renewing space for all grantees.
One attendee communicated:
The event was very welcoming and created a comfortable environment for networking. Everyone was approachable, kind, and genuinely interested in making meaningful connections. It was easy to engage in conversations, and I appreciated the effort people made to connect with one another, making the experience both enjoyable and valuable.
This grantee reflected on the power of unity:
We’re stronger as a community, and communities are strongest when they appreciate their people. It’s clear to me that spirit is alive and well… and that’s a deeply comforting thought.
Our fifth annual Grantee Gathering may be dune and dusted, but we are still blooming at the memories made. Thank you to our partners—you make our oasis flourish!
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