In Our Own Words

Friends,

As Black History Month comes to a close, we are reflecting on ways we center the wisdom of Black communities, the resilience of Black people, and the joy of Black culture in our everyday work. In our work to advance social justice, prioritizing Black liberation opens the door for liberation for all. When we grapple with systems that specifically oppress Black people, we inherently also address gender, class, sexuality, immigrant status, and more. The concept of intersectionality reminds us that every person holds multiple identities at once and when a person holds more than one identity that is marginalized, they experience oppression on multiple levels. By picking one area to focus on (i.e. race), progress is measurable and there is a clear lens to address other factors that intersect in order to advance anti-oppression efforts overall. When diversity, equity and inclusion work shies away from directly addressing anti-Black racism, the needs of Black communities are left unprioritized.

As our EPIP team continues to live out our values, we are digging deeper into what it means to be a pro-Black organization. We invite you to also reflect on what being pro-Black means to you and how Black liberation can lead the way for liberation for all. Below, you will find stories lifting perspectives of Black leaders in the philanthropic sector and several resources including workshops to support leaders looking to build pro-Black organizations and dismantle anti-Blackness in our institutions and movements.

While we are celebrating Black History Month, we want to acknowledge the ongoing attacks on Black communities including the recent bomb threats to historically Black colleges. Also, it feels remiss of us not to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine including the unfolding story of African students being prevented from safely fleeing. Our colleagues at the Council on Foundations have started compiling resources here to inform the philanthropic response to this crisis. As we collectively move through these trying times, we will continue to be resilient, to find ways to center joy, and to advance our movement towards liberation, leading from where we are.

At EPIP, we continue to stand in solidarity and work within our sphere of influence to support, build with, and celebrate our Black community members in our efforts to advance equity in and through philanthropy.

In solidarity,

The EPIP Team

EPIP News

Our Growing Team!

We are thrilled to welcome Laura Collier as our new Chapter Liaison! Through this role, Laura will support chapter leaders with creating strong, multi-racial, inclusive spaces for emerging practitioners to grow into leadership. Learn more about Laura and our full team on our website!

#BlackPhilanthropyLeaders

Shout out to our Executive Director, Storme Gray and EPIP member, Afia Amobeaa-Sakyi, Director of Equity & Inclusion at Exponent Philanthropy, for being celebrated by the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers as a #BlackPhilanthropyLeaders disrupting the status quo and advancing racial equity in philanthropy.

Storme shares, "I disrupt the status quo in philanthropy by unapologetically being my beautiful, brilliant, Black, queer self and by speaking the truth no matter how uncomfortable it may be."

Afia shares, "I disrupt the status quo in philanthropy because the future depends on a radical re-imagining."

EPIP People of Color Network Winter Gathering

Join EPIP and the People of Color Network for our first gathering of 2022 on March 2! This session will focus on the theme of solidarity. Joined by EPIP's new Chief of Staff, Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh, we'll discuss and share stories and strategies for building cross-racial solidarity as early and mid-career practitioners of color in philanthropy. Click here to register.

EPIP White Affinity Community of Practice

EPIP launched this space in 2021 to provide a rigorous and supportive environment for members who identify as white to:

• deepen knowledge of antiracism and develop skills and strategies to advance racial equity and inclusive leadership practices in philanthropy
• unpack and process the harmful effects of white privilege and white supremacy culture including how both show up within individuals and institutions
• discuss shared challenges and experiences

Click here to learn more about the community and register your interest here for this six-month community of practice cohort.

Chapter News & Events

Want to learn more about what’s going on in your local philanthropic community? Check out the events below and feel free to join any chapter events that are virtual.

EPIP LA | Lunch With a Leader: Miguel Santana - March 04, at 12:00pm Pacific Time

Join EPIP LA for its first Lunch with a Leader of 2022! Miguel Santana, President & C.E.O. of Weingart Foundation, will join us for an intimate and informal conversation to discuss leadership, his career path, and the philanthropic sector.

EPIP CO | Virtual Games Coffee Chat - March 10 at 9:00am Mountain Time

Join EPIP CO for an hour of Virtual Games with your favorite philanthrofolk. Get silly, get competitive, get laughing. Let loose in your digital rectangle and forget about work for a bit.

EPIP LA | Power Hour: Native and Indigenous Communities - Part 1- March 23 at 6:00pm Pacific Time

Join EPIP LA for a new series on a new series on Native and Indigenous Communities! Attendees will kick things off with a group screening of "Reservation Dogs," an Indigenous American teen comedy-drama, followed by an open discussion to reflect and and learn more about our Native and Indigenous communities.

Keep an eye on our events page for other opportunities to connect!

The Latest in Philanthropy

Philanthropy's Response to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine – March 3

The Council on Foundations is collaborating with the State Department’s Office of Global Partnerships to convene a call for funders on Thursday, March 3, at 3:00 p.m. ET to discuss the humanitarian needs in Ukraine and how foundations can assist. Thomas DeBass, Managing Director of the Office of Global Partnerships, will lead the government report out of what is happening on the ground. Registration details will be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday, as this crisis is unfolding in real-time.

The Council's global philanthropy team has also collated a list of response funds to support Ukrainians. We will continue to update the page with new relief funds and other resources as the situation develops. Our hearts are with Ukraine and the many refugees that the invasion has already produced. Click here to learn more and explore resources to guide philanthropic response.

Trust-Based Philanthropy in 4D Learning Series – March 3, 31 & May 5

The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, in partnership with the Environmental Grantmakers Association, Blue Sky Funders Forum, and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, is pleased to offer a four-part webinar series on using trust-based values to guide your philanthropy’s grantmaking practices, culture, structures, and leadership. Click here to register for upcoming sessions happening March 3, March 31, and May 5!

PEAK2022 Online – March 21-25!

Registration is open to join the PEAK grantmaking community for a weeklong virtual conference March 21 to 25, centering on what it looks like to “live your PEAK.” Together, attendees will imagine how grantmaking can truly embody what PEAK stands for: Principles, Equity, Advocacy, and Knowledge. Taking inspiration from thought-provoking keynotes, interactive peer dialogues, skill-building breakouts, and networking gatherings, the PEAK2022 experience will leave you empowered to lead change in your organization and the sector at large. Plus, PEAK will celebrate the great city of New Orleans by infusing the experience with a NOLA vibe!

Click here to explore the agenda and register today! EPIP’s director of programs, Elyse Gordon, will be leading a session! Be sure to check out the agenda, and we hope to see you there!

Building Black Power: Dismantling Anti-Blackness in Our Institutions and Movement – April 5

Join Equity in the Center on April 5 , 2022 to gain resources for identifying and undoing anti-Black racism and building pro-Black spaces within teams, organizations and communities. This session is for multi-racial organizational leaders seeking to disrupt the ways anti-Blackness shows up in their work. The facilitated workshop will involve interactive exercises and an experiential dialogue using historical and contemporary information, self-reflection, institutional analysis, visioning, and collective action planning. Click here to learn more and register!

Register for CHANGE Philanthropy’s 2022 DAPP Survey!

Remember to sign up here for CHANGE Philanthropy’s 2022 Diversity Among Philanthropic Professionals (DAPP) Survey by March 11, 2022! This survey is unique in soliciting anonymous, self-reported DEI data from individuals on the staff and boards of participating foundations, helping grantmakers accurately assess the culture & climate of their institutions. This edition of the DAPP Survey will illuminate the experiences of the philanthropic workforce across a diverse array of identity frames: race/ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, religious affiliation, and more. Learn more here.

Race Equity Culture™ Fellowship Applications Open!

GEO and Equity In The Center® (EiC) are partnering up to offer this new 10-month peer cohort program for racial equity and DEI leaders in grantmaking organizations. The fellowship program will be based on EiC’s core research and publication, Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture™, and their Race Equity Cycle™ framework. The framework outlines key organizational levers that are necessary for building, deepening and sustaining racial equity practice within organizations. Click here to learn more and apply by March 14!

#BlackGirlFreedomWeek!

Thank you to the #1Billion4BlackGirls campaign and Black Girl Freedom Fund, an initiative of Grantmakers for Girls of Color, for leading an engaging series of events to celebrate #BlackGirlFreedomWeek. Watch the recordings here to keep the good vibes going and continue to celebrate Black girls, femmes and gender-expansive youth everyday of the year!

Black Women Impact Grants

Goldman Sachs recently launched a $10 million grant program, Black Women Impact Grants, with an open call application process for Black women-led charitable nonprofits. Learn more here and spread the word.

Facing Race: A National Conference – Nov. 17 - 19

Registration is open to join Race Forward’s 2022 conference, a unique collaborative space for racial justice movement making. Facing Race is the largest multiracial, inter-generational gathering for organizers, educators, creatives, and other leaders. Click here to learn more about the sessions and register for this hybrid event!

What We're Reading, Watching & Listening to

In this article the Executive Director of Power Shift Network shares reflections and strategies on, “How to Prevent Burnout Among Black Movement Leaders.”

Borealis Philanthropy shares reflections on why, “You Can’t Serve the People If You Don’t Love the People.”

The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Launches New Living History Campaign.

NPQ highlights Leaders of Color at the Forefront of the Nonprofit Sector’s Challenges

This NY Times article, “When Working for Racial Justice Means Taking Black History Month Off,” reminds readers of the importance of focusing on Black issues year-round to avoid bombarding Black leaders with requests during Black History Month.

This University of Pittsburgh resource shares tips for, “Moving from Ally to Accomplice to Co-conspirator," in racial-justice work.

Charlene Carruthers’ book, Unapologetic, serves as a guide for social justice workers to upend mainstream ideas about race, class, and gender carves out a path to collective liberation.

The Combahee River Collective statement explores Black feminist issues and practice.

This article highlights how Gen Zers are using TikTok to learn about forgotten Black history.

Learn about LUNAR, a community building and investment vehicle for Asian-Americans to support the movement for Black and Indigenous-led liberation.

PEAK published several new articles to their Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Journal in their latest issue Driving Racial Equity in Philanthropy.

CookRoss, an inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility consulting firm, shared the following list of podcasts to check out in honor of Black History Month:

• The Coin: Black History On The Other Side - Brittany Wilkins
• The Culture Soup Podcast - L Michelle Smith
• Black History Buff Podcast - King Kurus
• The Minority Trailblazer Podcast with Greg E. Hill
• Black Entrepreneur Blueprint - Jay Jones
• Noire Histoir - Natasha McEachron
• 1619 - The New York Times with Nikole Hannah-Jones
• Seizing Freedom - VPM
• Balanced Black Girl - Les
• Dear Culture - theGrio
• Side Hustle Pro - Nicaila Matthews Okome
• Reparations: The Big Payback - Erika Alexander + Whitney Dow
• Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Have something new on your reading list? Is there a resource you'd like the EPIP community to know about? Let us know at [email protected] and we may include it in a future newsletter.

Job Board

Looking for a new opportunity?

The positions below are just the beginning. Check our Job Board for more opportunities from around the country!

• Arts and Culture Program Officer – Kresge Foundation (Troy, MI,)
• Program Associate, The Philanthropic Initiative – The Boston Foundation (Boston, MA)
• Program Officer – The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Princeton, N.J.)
• Program Coordinator – The California Wellness Foundation (Oakland or Los Angeles, CA)
  
• Manager of Communications and Storytelling - FSG (Boston MA, Washington DC, San Francisco CA, or Seattle WA)
• Program Officer, Criminal Justice – MacArthur Foundation (Chicago, IL)
  

Want to explore the Job Board's filters and special features? Log in to your member account or join EPIP today!

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