“In philanthropy, so often we fund organizations that parachute into communities to help solve problems with their programming. Going one step further, folks in philanthropy who are often far removed from issues try to solve the problems themselves. We need to be moving more dollars to community organizations that are closest to the issues.”
“As a White person, I need to live in the racial discomfort. That is not to say I tolerate racial harm or trauma, but instead recognize I need to be in ‘disequilibrium.’ It is only then that I, as a White person, can see and experience with clarity what racial justice is.”
“I was drawn to the Capital Collaborative Cohort because of the space it provided to be with other White-identifying funders as we learned about and processed our roles and responsibilities in the movement for racial justice.”
“I have spent the better part of the last three years, since the murder of George Floyd, immersed in trainings filled with folks representing many different races. In many of these settings, I have felt it is best to listen and absorb other people's journeys and points of view. Having done this work, I felt that it was time to really be able to focus on sharpening my own narrative and point of view.”
“Funders who choose to dream big know that the examples for “good” philanthropy are the starting points of changing the landscape. We need those funders who are willing to go beyond those starting points to reimagine the system of funding–building power to cede power.”
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Find ways to learn the uncomfortable truths that BIPOC leaders can share about grantmaking practices and grantor-grantee interactions that might unintentionally stifle voices and limit innovation. The fact that these negatives are unintentional does not give us a pass on taking steps to do better.
“…to effectuate change within your own organization and in the world of philanthropy, partnership between board and staff is critical. We recognize there might be skepticism in doing this work collaboratively. I can only speak for myself, and I know every relationship is different, but doing this work together was truly transformational for our foundation. If you have a safe, trusting, and transparent relationship with your board members, or even just one, I highly recommend considering going through a journey like this together.”
Read More“When we truly center equity and justice, we'll still be working toward outcomes, but we'll know the outcomes are driven by and for the people we are serving.”
“I joined the Capital Collaborative is because I'm new to the philanthropic space and was seeking a peer cohort experience that allowed me to explore the intersection of racial justice and philanthropy.”
“When I applied to the Capital Collaborative cohort I was hoping to join a career-centered space to build community and find accountability as a white woman working to advance racial equity and justice in all aspects of my life. After our second and final Summit in New Orleans, I am hoping to continue to change and learn…”
“I saw the Capital Collaborative as an opportunity to be in community with other philanthropy professionals that might be finding themselves in a similar place, learn best practices, and to be held accountable by folks inside and outside of my organization. If we want the philanthropic sector to have its greatest impact, it is important for White-identifying funders to proactively engage as this is not work that will happen on its own.”
“It’s great for White funders to learn and hold knowledge, especially about the historical and current systems that perpetuate racism and inequity, but knowledge is not the measure of our success, nor is deepening our understanding sufficient. My success is and should be measured by action - the way in which I support and resource the leaders best positioned to develop their practices and lead on change.”
Read More“We know that only 4% of the $76 billion foundations gave out in the U.S. in 2019 went to Black and Latiné entrepreneurs even though they represent 29% of the population. We also know that 76% of foundation staff identify as White and White Americans’ social networks are 91% White. All of this led us to the creation of the Capital Collaborative.”
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Three steps to demonstrating metamorphic legacy as a board member or trustee of a funding institution.
Read More“To move towards building more equitable systems, we must also be willing to take a deep look at our history. The value of knowing your history is like a bow and arrow, you must pull back to be able to spring forward. We must pull back and really acknowledge the ways different groups of people have historically been (and continue to be) marginalized, in order to spring forward and build a future that centers the liberation of us all.”
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“…the system that currently governs how philanthropy flows upholds white supremacy. And if everyday citizens and communities of color don’t know how that system works—or, more accurately, doesn’t work—we can’t agitate, advocate for, imagine, design, or demand change to a system that quietly affects us all.”
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“Across the Deep South, we see examples of foundations and philanthropists creating complicated grant applications and reporting requirements in order to dole out small sums of money to communities upon whose backs their wealth was built in the first place. Imagine the trauma of applying for funds from a foundation that bears the name of the people that enslaved your ancestors. And then being forced to center the shortcomings of your community in order to convince them that your request is justified.”
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“Racism works to separate people - to undermine human relationships through fear, violence, and misinformation. Relationships are an antidote to these insidious, confusing ideas and building them is an essential skill in order for racial equity in philanthropy to become reality.”
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“Money is constantly flowing and it is unbelievably abundant…when it is not being hoarded. In a capitalist society where folks are ‘perishing on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity’, love looks like access to abundant capital.”
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“When we incorrectly label the money in foundations and donor-advised funds as still belonging to the founders, we then also act like the money – and the foundation – belong to them, which perpetuates a concentration of power at odds with our sector’s aims. Words matter. Our words influence who holds power.”
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