AFN is the leading national grantmaker membership organization focused on advancing equitable wealth building and economic mobility.

Philanthropy Mobilizing Together for Policy & Systems Change

While companies typically have legislative matters central to their operations, they won’t always be out front on things like this. However, with our support, AFN has the opportunity to step forward and take a leading role. That’s why policy engagement and funding groups like AFN are critical.

Liz Brister

Entergy

Exploring the Roots and Horizons of Our Shared Asset-Building Journey

Private foundations can advocate. You cannot lobby. But there are vast and permissible opportunities that we need to step into as a sector, particularly at the city and county levels. That’s the only way that we’re going to get systemic change.

Qiana Thomason

Health Forward

Centering Community Voice and Power

Tension is good. But the central tension we want to avoid is imposing agendas in a community that believes and attends to needs that it does not ask to be attended to. Invite them to sit at the table with us, and that’s a tension we bring to our funders. Let’s talk, and let’s unlearn together.

Claudia Arroyo

Prospera

Exploring the Roots and Horizons of Our Shared Asset-Building Journey

I believe AFN is the original system change leader — the network has always tried to understand the underlying root causes of economic inequality and adopt the role of bridge builders between different philanthropic fields, sectors, regions, and cultures. As the issues facing our communities become more complex and intersected, we all need to do that more than ever.

Brandee McHale

Citi Foundation

Unlocking Philanthropy’s Disruptive Potential

Just as policies of exclusion often start at the local level, policies of inclusion can be resourced and work their way up to the national level. So I think it is really asking the question, ‘What will you do in local communities for this effort?’

Dr. Andre Perry

Brookings Metro

Philanthropy Mobilizing Together for Policy & Systems Change

I’ve heard many conversations in philanthropy where we pose the question, ‘Should we engage in policy?’ And then it immediately goes to ‘What might happen if we do? Is it too risky? Will we lose our donors, constituents, and customers?’ The question we need to ask is, ‘What will happen if we don’t?’

Mendi Blue Paca

Fairfield County's Community Foundation

Philanthropy Mobilizing Together for Policy & Systems Change

It’s not just about the wins. We love those policy victories, but it’s also about what we leave behind, the infrastructure we build, the leaders we develop, the narratives we change.

John-Michael Cortez

Google Fiber

Unlocking Philanthropy’s Disruptive Potential

The paradox is that we’re fighting for our humanity, which means we will make mistakes. That means that we will cause harm, and we will have to repair it. But for me, that benefits all of us. We all want to live in a world where if we cause harm or harm is caused to us, we are held, and we have the skills to repair. That’s how we build a world where we all belong.

Aria Florant

Liberation Ventures

Centering Community Voice and Power

I know poverty, I know struggle, but I also know resistance. So I know I can say no to funding and be fine. That’s where communities are now. We’re demanding that you sit with us, talk with us, learn our ways and be able to translate them into the world we live in.

Stephanie Gutierrez

Seven Fires

Philanthropy Mobilizing Together for Policy & Systems Change

Be cognizant that there’s likely an advocacy and organizing infrastructure already in your community that has been working at this long before it became du jour. And it’s probably under-resourced. Make your role to understand this ecosystem, resourcing the people already doing the work and then finding the lane where you are uniquely positioned to amplify your voice and influence.

Jessamyn Sabbag

San Francisco Foundation

Unlocking Philanthropy’s Disruptive Potential

When we talk about racial disparities that come from Black people, we don’t often talk about the advantages that came to white people by design. Even though we know it’s uncomfortable, you can’t do meaningful work without leaning into these uncomfortable positions.

Ryan Haygood

New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

Centering Community Voice and Power

We invite philanthropy to lean in, slow down, and get proximal with the community. We invite you to play an intentional role in centering and elevating the voice, power, and innovation by walking alongside each other as critical partners, peers, and co-architects in this asset and wealth-building movement.

Tracey Greene-Washington

Indigo Innovation Group and CoThinkk

Imperative of Influencing Change

We need equity-focused data, yet the current climate’s reluctance has led to dwindling interest and funding for these crucial issues. We need next-generation researchers who are building on earlier foundations and have the boldness and bravery to dig into the narratives, numbers, and nuances of both.

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman

Editor, The Black Agenda: Bold Solutions for a Broken System

Check out the AFN National Grantmaker Conference highlights, photos, and actions shared by grantmakers.

Guaranteed Income Funder Q&A Cover Image2

New Paper: Guaranteed Income: Funder Q & A

This new paper from AFN answers key questions about the asset building case for supporting guaranteed income efforts. AFN’s perspectives are built upon member experience as well as data, resources, and publications by experts within the field of guaranteed income.

Mother and daughter having fun at the park in good weather

New Primer: Insights to Action at the Intersection of Climate Change and Financial Health

AFN’s new Insights to Action guide offers solutions at the intersections of financial health and climate change for grantmakers.

Member Spotlight: Jasmyne Beckford, Prudential Financial

Meet our members! AFN’s greatest asset is our members—a diverse network of national, regional, and community-based foundations, financial institutions, and grantmakers—investing in advancing equitable wealth building and economic mobility. Check back each month and meet your peers!

Events: Join us Online & In-Person

Join us online or in person for new strategies that move the needle. Click here to learn more.

ICYMI: Listen Now: AFN Webinars

AFN features presentations from leading authors and researchers, and funders doing field-leading philanthropic work. Listen now

Who is AFN? Explore the Network

AFN is philanthropy’s leading national grantmaker membership organization focused on building economic well-being for low and middle income people.

Featured Realizing Economic Justice Reflection Card

Simple reflection questions and thought-provoking ideas to support your economic justice journey.

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ADDRESSING THE RACIAL FUNDING GAP

What steps can we take to “fund at the source,” so that we are not perpetuating White supremacy by writing checks to larger, White-led nonprofits instead of smaller, less resourced organizations led by people of color?