Asset Funders Network introduces the Equity Amplifier for Economic Security (EA), a monthly spotlight series highlighting organizations or nonprofits focused on building economic security/asset building in communities of color.
In 2023, Greater New York AFN began convening an Economic Justice Roundtable, a table of shared funders, advocates, and other nonprofit organizations working to advance collective, sustained action for regional and national racial and economic justice. The roundtables have informed and shaped the Greater New York AFN priorities and focus areas.
The Opportunity: The very foundations of our country’s economic inequities are built on deeply entrenched systems of racism, slavery, biased economic policies, and practices that support inequity. Intersectional systems of power and privilege related to gender, race, class, sexual orientation, and physical ability result in a spectrum of structural and systemic inequities that impact an individual’s ability to build assets and thrive. Furthermore, so called race neutral and colorblind approaches have not led to equitable wealth building opportunities. Asset funders have a unique opportunity to apply an anti-racist lens to their philanthropy, scrutinize systems and policies for racial bias that hinders wealth building and economic justice, and adopt more effective anti-racist approaches.
The Journey: The Economic Justice Roundtables are a journey centering Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian voices, the voices of communities of color in our asset-building strategies and approach. Race and how systemic racism impacts philanthropy has been central to this exploration. To date, the GNY AFN Economic Justice Roundtables have:
- Identified economic justice CBOs led by and working within regional communities of color to inform and challenge our understanding, programs, and policy focus areas and co-create new norms, narratives, and partnerships.
- Held 2 round tables to develop a shared understanding and co-create a vision of the narratives, programs, and policies for shared prosperity.
- Identified key issues and informed national and regional content for Asset Funders Network to highlight based on Economic Justice Roundtables.
We’ve featured three nonprofits that are part of the Economic Justice Roundtable below. Click to learn more about their work!
About the Equity Amplifier
The EA serves as a space where philanthropy can engage with communities of color and examine how funders are addressing concerns in a manner that is intersectional and inclusive. Each month, AFN members will have the opportunity to access organizations and nonprofits in communities of color that are focused on economic security and asset building, including an informational brochure and a brief interactive virtual video presentation.
As a benefit of AFN membership, funders may nominate local nonprofits focused on building economic security/asset building in communities of color to highlight as part of the EA series. AFN members will also receive the opportunity to participate in a brief interactive virtual video presentation that will be shared with national AFN membership, allowing your organization to showcase innovative models and best practices to help build a more secure future for diverse communities.
How can funders get involved?
For more information about the Greater New York Economic Justice Roundtable, contact Leah Mayor, Senior Director of Greater New York, at leah@assetfunders.org.
For more information or to nominate an organization or nonprofit led by people of color for the AFN EA, visit our website or contact AFN at info@assetfunders.org.
