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About AFN

Annual Reports

The Asset Funders Network is pleased to share our 2022 Annual Report.

For 18 years, AFN has provided a forum for grantmakers to connect, collaborate, and collectively invest in helping more people achieve economic security.

This report reflects our work over the past year, celebrating AFN’s innovative research, engagement opportunities, and movement building.

2022 Annual Report

Report Highlights

Engaging over 140 institutional members investing in asset building across the U.S.

47 learning opportunities
advancing the latest insights and strategies from the field

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37 national and regional webinars and events convened

10 unique issue based research publications produced

Partnered with more than 175 thought leaders on publications and in-person, virtual, and hybrid events.

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Mobilized 87 unique organizations to collaborate on 31 jointly funded initiatives

National Snapshot

2022 Grantmaker Conference

AFN’s biennial conference, Accelerating Ideas Into Action: Rebuilding a More Equitable and Anti-Racist Economy, took place in Oakland, California—home to AFN’s first regional chapter. The conference explored, discussed, and shared funding approaches designed to complement AFN’s groundbreaking research.

BY THE NUMBERS
  • 200% increase in grantmaker attendees since 2012
  • 3 days of programming, including 25 sessions and networking opportunities
  • More than 40 speakers representing nonprofits serving communities of color

AFN’s conference was an informative and provocative convening that brought the right voices to the right conversations for funders to be hearing and having right now.

RACHEAL MEIERS | Kaiser Permanente

Realizing Economic Justice

Realizing Economic Justice: Confronting Racial Bias in Asset Building Philanthropy is a platform confronting and addressing racial bias in economic security and asset-building philanthropy. AFN released new tools and resources for funders to utilize in their journey toward realizing racial and economic justice.

REFLECTION CARDS

52-card deck facilitating simple reflections through questions and thought-provoking ideas to help funders deepen their understanding and center racial equity in their philanthropic investments.

Regional Highlights

Greater New York

Developed a 3-part series on Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that lifts up the role of CDFIs in reaching under-capitalized communities. The series explored opportunities to increase investment, capacity, and effectiveness of
CDFIs serving small businesses owned by people of color. Within the first three months of the pandemic, Black business ownership nationally dropped by 41%, Hispanic business ownership by 32%, Asian American ownership by 26%, and immigrant business ownership by 36%. In the region, CDFIs were essential in delivering capital and support to small businesses owned by people of color who faced far higher rates of closing during the pandemic.

North Texas

Established the Equity in Asset Building Relay Grant, a pooled fund elevating the visibility and investment of nonprofits led by people of color working on economic security issues in the region. Funders came together to create the fund in order to address the implicit bias within philanthropy that limits the amount of power and resources allocated to the work led by people of color. In addition to receiving a capacity-building grant, grantees will join the selection committee, nominating organizations to receive future funding.

Cover image of the 2021 Annual Report
View last year’s 2021 Annual Report