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 

Early- and mid-career white EPIP members have cited these affinity spaces as important parts of their anti-racist journeys within the sector. Many anti-racist resources, cohorts and peer groups in philanthropy are designed for senior leaders. This community  provides learning and accountability for early- and mid-career practitioners to support systems change at all levels of leadership. 

How do I join? 

Click here to express interest in joining the next cohort! Each cohort is capped at 30. There will be two cohorts running a year. 

Any EPIP member who identifies as white is welcome to register. The space will be most beneficial to those invested in unpacking ways white supremacy culture resides within you individually and within your institution. 

The kick off session on Tuesday June 13 is mandatory and will last 90 minutes. 
Additional sessions will meet the second Tuesday of the month for one hour, with the closing session on Tuesday November 14 meeting for 90 minutes. Zoom information will be provided once participation is confirmed and approved. 

What can I expect? 

Our communities of practice are guided by principles of peer coaching and group dialogue. While facilitators may provide curated and designed skill-building workshops, your network of peers are your best resource for learning what has worked well and co-creating new-strategies for navigating your unique challenges. 

Unlearning and dismantling white supremacy takes a lifetime commitment. Opting into rigorous, committed participation in this space is one opportunity to build your skills and capacity to hold the discomfort required to take meaningful action as a white person doing racial equity work in philanthropy.

What is expected of me? 

This community requires a six-month commitment to meet monthly for facilitated discussion and peer coaching around topics of identity, white privilege, white supremacy culture, and anti-racism. 

In order to develop rapport and trusted relationships, we ask participants to prioritize consistent attendance. Participants must attend the first gathering of their cohort. Register your interest and commitment here.

Like all communities of practice, this experience is only as strong as members’ participation and feedback. We ask that attendees minimize distractions to be fully present for these vulnerable conversations and learning experiences. Attendees must honor confidentiality of personal experiences shared in these spaces along with any other community agreements created by the group. 

Questions? 

Email Elyse Gordon, Director of Programs: [email protected] 

Following a robust year of identity-based professional development and peer support in 2022, EPIP's People of Color Network (PCN) is back for a year of building stronger relationships, philanthropic skills, and collective power. Join EPIP and the PCN for the kick-off session of 2023 on March 23!

The PCN is a professional development and peer support network for EPIP members who identify as people of color. The PCN began in 2012 to support early- and mid-career people of color in philanthropy in attending sector conferences. Since then, it has evolved to involve workshops and networking opportunities. The PCN uses the EPIP Inclusive Leadership Framework as a basis for skill-building and focus. 

EPIP Communities of Practice are designed for EPIP members. Not a member yet? Visit our membership page to learn more and join this community of equity-minded changemakers. 

Questions about our communities of practice? Reach out to [email protected] 

We look forward to connecting with this robust community!

From 2019 - 2021, EPIP Bay Area & The Libra Foundation held in person and virtual gatherings where women of color philanthropic leaders spoke with EPIP’s audiences about their journeys fighting for justice and authenticity in the field.

In late March 2021, the murders of 6 Asian American women in Atlanta brought new attention to a disturbing and hateful trend of growing violence against members of the Asian American community, a legacy of the anti-Asian sentiment built and nurtured by white supremacist culture in America. As philanthropy – and many other groups and sectors within the US – came together to decry the hatred, many Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) individuals within the sector were left to grapple with the impact of a moment that resonated both personally and professionally.

Below, four Asian American members of the philanthropic community – Claudia Leung, Jonny Moy, Jennifer Nguyen, and Cristiana Baik  – share their perspectives on the violence, immediate philanthropic response, and hopes for the sector’s commitment to AA/PI communities long-term.

What follows is part one of two reflections from these four leaders within our membership.

Join us at our 2021 Conference, R/evolution, for the formal launch of EPIP’s new communities of practice and a celebration of our long-running People of Color Network (PCN)!

Over the last few months, we’ve been meeting with members, researching with other philanthropy serving organizations, and connecting with our CHANGE partners. As a result of this relationship-building and deep listening, we’re thrilled to be launching two new communities of practice at our virtual conference. Click here for more on the conference or to register.

The first community of practice, for emerging women of color, will serve dual purposes of strengthening the professional networks for early- to mid-career women of color in philanthropy and strengthening interpersonal leadership skills so that women of color advance and thrive in the sector. The second community of practice, in response to requests from white members of EPIP, will support white practitioners in building greater accountability in their work to combat white dominant culture within philanthropy, and to sharpen their allyship and advocacy skills. Finally, we’re thrilled to bring renewed energy and intention to our long-standing People of Color Network, for EPIP members who identify as people of color.

We hope you'll join us as we dive into these new opportunities for the EPIP community to connect and grow together!

What is leadership? A year ago, when I accepted the role as EPIP’s Executive Director, I sat with this question for quite some time, reflecting on the models of leadership that I had seen held up as exemplary.

Leaders are fearless. 

Leaders are confident. 

Leaders are focused, stoic, unflappable, and always poised.

Those models didn’t resonate with me, though. And as the year went on, and the events of 2020 came crashing down upon us like unrelenting waves upon the shore, I realized why. Any model of leadership which removes the fullness of human emotions for the sake of performing perfection was more isolating than it was liberating. I wanted more than that for myself, more than that for EPIP, and more than that for the work ahead of us. 

How Generation Y is Shaping the Future of Philanthropy

Reflections by Angela Sanchez, Program Officer for College Success at ECMC Foundation, a national foundation that makes investments in postsecondary programs and initiatives. 

When ECMC Foundation (ECMCF) first brought me on almost three years ago, I wasn’t yet old enough to rent a car for an upcoming site visit. We were in the early stages of our staff growth and I was officially the youngest person in the office. I did the math—indeed, I was half a standard deviation younger than the average age among my fellow staff members. Only my immediate program director – a Millennial from the 80s – helped skew the average away from making me a full standard deviant. [read more]