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.
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 has launched a REJ community of practice to support members interested in race-conscious grantmaking. Please note that this CoP does not offer legal advice.
community of practice is for you if:
1. Your employer is an AFN member or will become an AFN member before the start of the session.
2. You are Realizing Economic Justice values-aligned.
3. You can commit to fully participating in all virtual sessions of the cohort. Sessions will not be recorded, nor will AI notetaking be permitted.
4. You can commit 1-2 hours of pre-reads/pre-listens before the start of the first session.
We encourage AFN members willing to courageously share experiences, constructively exchange knowledge, and committed to race-forward grantmaking–be it within their institutions or the broader philanthropic community–to complete the form below.
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.
The Community of Practice aims to provide:
Collaborative problem-solving, strategy development, and case-building to defend and advance race-conscious practices and policies
Access to resources, emerging practices, and tools to support race-conscious grantmaking internally and externally
Community and relationship building with colleagues to sustain the adaptive work of realizing economic justice
Interested in joining future cohorts? Email beth@assetfunders.org, with your name, organization, and AFN member status, to be informed of future Realizing Economic Justice Community of Practice offerings.
Sponsored by:
