About EPIP's People of Color Network (PCN)

The PCN (formerly Professional Development Fund or PDF) was established in 2005 to widen the leadership pipeline through the provision of leadership development opportunities specific to emerging philanthropic practitioners of color. EPIP's People of Color Network responds to the distinct challenges of navigating philanthropy as a person of color and is intended to promote the retention, influence and advancement of people of color in the philanthropic sector. In 2021, the PCN became one of three Communities of Practice that EPIP offered to its members. 

Today, the PCN operates as an informal network of EPIP members to support one another and provide identity-based professional development and peer coaching. While the communities of practice have been re-shaped to better meet our members' needs, we continue to communicate with our PCN members to share distinct opportunities to connect and build power together. 

Since its inception, EPIP’s PCN has engaged hundreds of emerging leaders from a diverse range of institutions, geographic locations, backgrounds and roles within the philanthropic sector. Members of the network have been able to connect with fellow emerging practitioners of color, strengthen their leadership, and deepen their analysis and practice of social justice philanthropy within and beyond their institutions.

Participation in the Network is open to EPIP members who identify as a person of color. EPIP membership can be purchased individually or institutionally.

In addition to blogs, webinars, and specific programs for PCN, EPIP has provided scholarships to PCN members as participants of a small delegation to conferences such as the Allied Media Conference, PolicyLink's Equity Summit, and Race Forward's Facing Race National Conference. To learn more about upcoming programs and opportunities related to the PCN, please sign up for our mailings. 

Resources:

A collection of blog posts, recaps and other resources from previous PCN gatherings can be found here.

The Next Generation Speaks:

What Emerging Leaders of Color in Philanthropy Think about Race

This monograph provides a current snapshot of the experiences and perspectives of emerging philanthropic professionals of color on issues of racial equity. Through seven years of People of Color Network programming, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy has heard from more than 125 emerging professionals of color in the field about the experience of being a person of color in philanthropy.

Download the publication.