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June 2023
Volume 9 | Issue No. 71
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any nonprofit organizations rely on philanthropic
funding to develop and deliver initiatives that address
the needs of the communities they serve. However, if their
community is not represented in the funder's staff, board,
or strategies, the disconnect may cause more harm than
help. Mobilizing Resources to Power Black Communities,
a recent webinar in Resilia's #AskUsAnything series,
explored how intentional philanthropic endeavors
rooted in antiracism can help Black communities, and all
communities, thrive.
Currently, there is a large gap between the number of
philanthropy funds being disbursed each year and the
number of communities of color that are receiving funds
– a "philanthropic justice issue" as described by Edgar
Villanueva, author of the book Decolonizing Wealth. To
correct this issue, white funding entities must consider the
unique challenges BIPOC funders face while navigating
philanthropic spaces, the needs of BIPOC communities,
and approach philanthropy with intention to make sure
dollars – and other resources – go where they are most
needed.
REACH Healthcare Foundation is a charitable foundation
dedicated to improving health coverage and access to
quality, affordable health care for uninsured and medically
underserved people. In an effort to better center racial
equity in their philanthropy, REACH recently piloted a two-
year program called Centering Black Voices which helped
them to build strong relationships with the communities
they serve.
REACH's approach falls in line with a currently popular
movement of trust-based philanthropy, where charitable
foundations and funders are working to serve communities
through a more intentional and equitable lens. For Gibson,
REACH focuses on taking more of a reparative approach
for Black communities that is strategic and years in the
making.
"Trust-based philanthropy is a buzzword right now in my
sector," said Carla Gibson, REACH's vice president of
programs. "I believe it's about building relationships with
underserved, under-resourced communities so that funds
can ultimately be invested in those communities. The
relationship is one where philanthropy is trying to remove
barriers."
The Need for Black Philanthropists
Tahira Christmon, vice president of external affairs at the
Association of Black Funding Executives (ABFE) began the
webinar conversation with the history of ABFE in addressing
the lack of diversity in the philanthropy space. In 1971,
the Council on Foundations presented and voted on an
all-white and predominantly male board, immediately
after Black foundation leaders had presented their
recommendations for Black philanthropists more than
qualified to serve. In response, seven of these leaders left
in protest and founded ABFE.
"Many people forget that big, big decision making
happens at the board level, and those who are in those
board meetings are predominantly trustees," Christmon
said. "Trustees are predominantly, right now, white and
male. So how do we push the envelope in getting more
people of color into the trustee seat?"
ABFE has a well-established history of supporting Black
philanthropists in all roles and celebrated its fiftieth
anniversary in 2022. Since its founding, the organization
has considered how Black foundation leaders, many of
whom are the only Black person in their foundation, are
navigating the workplace and making an impact on the
communities from which they came.
"It's okay for us to be in solidarity with each other. It's wonderful when we are included,
but it's also okay for us to create spaces, create organizations, and create systems that
work for us."
- Tahira Christmon, VP of External Affairs at ABFE
