AFN Member Conversation, Webinar

Realizing Economic Justice Community of Practice – 2024 Inaugural Cohort

AFN’s Realizing Economic Justice Community of Practice is an exclusive offering for AFN members concerned about the future of race-conscious grantmaking. AFN’s Realizing Economic Justice (REJ) initiative is a series of resources, programming, and activities to support grantmakers in advancing funding strategies and philanthropic practices that confront and address racial bias in economic security and asset-building philanthropy.

Race-conscious grantmaking is a powerful strategy to correct the racial funding gap in philanthropy and the role of racism in creating historical and current economic injustices. Recognizing that race-conscious grantmaking in asset-building philanthropy is a catalyst for realizing racial and economic justice, AFN members have adopted various race-conscious approaches across their work areas. However, race-conscious efforts to shift power and eradicate structural and systemic racism are being increasingly scrutinized and threatened. In response to ongoing attacks on race-conscious policies, practices, and activities, AFN is launching a REJ community of practice to support members interested in race-conscious grantmaking.

AFN’s REJ Community of Practice (CoP) provides AFN members committed to race-conscious grantmaking a brave space for exchanging emerging practices in advancing race- and gender-focused grantmaking, problem-solving philanthropic approaches to combat the myth of colorblindness, and helps build relationships to sustain the adaptive work of realizing economic justice. Please note that this CoP will not offer legal advice.

When:

For the remainder of 2024, the CoP will consist of four, 90-minute sessions as follows:

  • Tuesday, September 10, 2024 from 10am -11:30 PST
  • Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 10am -11:30 PST
  • Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 10am -11:30 PST
  • Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 10am -11:30 PST

The 2025 offering will be designed with input from the inaugural cohort.

Where:

All 2024 sessions will be virtual. A Zoom link will be emailed to participants prior to each session.

Sessions will not be recorded, nor will AI notetaking be permitted.

Why:
  • Collaborative problem-solving, strategy development, and case-building to defend and advance race-conscious practices and policies
  • Access resources, emerging practices, and tools to support race-conscious grantmaking internally and externally
  • Build community and relationships with colleagues to sustain the adaptive work of realizing economic justice
Who:

This Community of Practice is for you, if:

  • Your employer is an AFN member or will become an AFN member at the time of registration.
  • You are Realizing Economic Justice values-aligned.
  • You can commit to fully participating in all four virtual sessions noted above.
  • You can commit 1-2 hours of pre-reads/pre-listens prior to the start of the first session

We encourage AFN members willing to courageously share experiences and constructively exchange knowledge to foster innovative approaches to realizing economic justice and committed to race-conscious grantmaking–be it within their institutions or the broader philanthropic community–to complete the application form below. We also encourage multiple people from the same organization to participate.

2024 Curriculum:

Each session will prioritize small-group, peer-to-peer discussions to cultivate collective learning. Participants are expected to be engaged, on-camera, and to maintain confidentiality.

  • Session 1: Build community and relationships with peers concerned about racial bias in philanthropy
  • Session 2: Learn and share strategies, tools, and opportunities to defend and advance race-conscious practices and policies within your institution
  • Session 3: Learn and share strategies, tools, and opportunities to support grantees carrying out race-conscious activities
  • Session 4: 2025 REJ CoP design session
Cost:

Participation in this Community of Practice is included in the cost of your AFN membership. If you are interested in participating and not yet an AFN member please contact Kristin Rennels, Membership Director, kristin@assetfunders.org to become a member. Membership rates start at $1,000.

Application Process:

Complete this simple registration form to apply for the Realizing Economic Justice Community of Practice. If multiple people from the same organization are applying, each individual should complete a registration form. Space is limited.

Register Today

Please contact Rebeca Rangel at info@assetfunders.org with any questions.