Arkansas AFN is a regional chapter of grantmakers who advance equitable wealth building and economic mobility. Members include private, public, corporate, and community foundations, public-sector funders, and financial institutions who want to help Arkansans secure economic stability, for now and for years to come. Arkansas AFN connects funders and their peers in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. Together they share promising programs and smart strategies, gather knowledge to make their grantmaking more effective, and work to increase investments in asset building.
Arkansas AFN was launched in 2016 as a regional affiliate of national AFN by a core group of funders including the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Entergy Charitable Foundation, the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis-Little Rock Branch. Membership is open to funders who invest in a range of initiatives that build assets for Arkansas, from early childhood education, college access, or workforce development to health, financial capacity, or micro-enterprise. Arkansas AFN members meet regularly and host events to share ideas. Grantmakers investing in Arkansas should contact Abby Hughes Holsclaw if interested in joining this chapter.
Learn more about the Arkansas chapter’s impact in AFN’s Power of Place publication.
ALICE Champions Policy Conversation Summary
On January 24, 2023, Rev. Shantell Hinton Hill, senior equity officer with the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, kicked off the ALICE Champions Policy conversation at the ASU systems building in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event centered on asking policy, business, philanthropic, and nonprofit leaders to use their voice and influence with ALICE to impact systems and policy changes around three budget busters —medical debt, housing, and child care.
How We Work
- Inform: Arkansas AFN members learn from one another and stakeholders as they seek solutions to local challenges. The chapter hosts issue-based programming and calls-to-action that reflect research and philanthropic thought leadership that highlights actionable roles for philanthropy. While focusing on a variety of topics, the chapter gathers local leaders and national experts together to share data and ideas, promote innovative approaches, and help establish common language to build collaboration.
- Influence: Arkansas AFN engages funders and public/private stakeholders in frank, issue-based discussions that influence policy and foster systemic change. Members seek opportunities to accelerate economic prosperity while also reducing racial, ethnic, and gender wealth gaps. Members provide an insightful Southern voice to inform national and local conversations on topics including access to capital for women of color, reduction of debt, financial coaching, Arkansas tax reform, and banking the unbanked.
- Connect: Arkansas AFN members support peer-to-peer learning and cross-sector collaboration. Members identify and leverage replicable and scalable high-impact strategies and innovative approaches to connect and inform influential funders of actionable investments.
- Build: Arkansas AFN works to increase the number of grantmakers and resources focused on strategies that help low and moderate income people build and protect assets. Members leverage one another’s interests and networks to actively identify additional funders willing to co-invest in the South.
Regional Focus Areas
-
Bank On Arkansas+
-
ALICE Action Agenda
-
Access to Capital for Women
Upcoming Events
April 19 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT : UADA & Bank On Arkansas+ Hempstead County Community Partner Meeting
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with Bank On Arkansas+ (BOA+) invites you to join us for a … REGISTER
May 1 @ 11:00 am - May 31 @ 12:00 pm CDT : UADA & Bank On Arkansas+ Community Partner Meetings
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with Bank On Arkansas+ (BOA+) invites you to join us for a … REGISTER
CLICK HERE for more information and resources from our past events.
Upcoming Events
Contact
Are you a Arkansas grantmaker interested in joining this chapter? Contact us to learn more.
Abby Hughes Holsclaw, abby@assetfunders.org
Steering Committee
Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Communities Unlimited
Arkansas Access to Justice
Entergy Charitable Foundation
Walton Family Foundation
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Excellerate Foundation
Southern Bancorp Community Partners
Hope Enterprise Corporation
Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
Arkansas Community Foundation
Baptist Health Foundation
Heart of Arkansas United Way
Arvest Bank
Women's Foundation of Arkansas
Chapter Highlights
Roundtable to Highlight Early Care Needs for ALICE
On Wednesday, September 8, 2022, the AR Asset Funders Network partnered with Excel by Eight and the Institute for Economic Equity at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis hosted a roundtable discussion ‘Child Care and the Economy: An Arkansas Roundtable.’ The gathering featured business and industry leaders from across the state who shared insights and discuss opportunities to support child care for the current and future workforce. LEARN MORE
Women Entrepreneurship Support Organizations Collaborative Meeting
On July 13, 2022, the initial meeting was held to form a Women’s ESO collaborative, hosted by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas in partnership with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Arkansas Asset Funders Network, and the Venture Center. The purpose was to bring together organizations that provide support for women entrepreneurs and explore our shared interests to accelerate the growth of women owned businesses in Arkansas. LEARN MORE
A Conversation with Bill Bynum
On January 31, 2022, we were joined by Bill Bynum, Chief Executive Officer of HOPE and Anthony Young, Executive Director of Southern Bancorp Community Partners, for a conversation on supporting the financial health of families and small businesses during an ongoing pandemic. Watch the recording and for more information, contact Kara Wilkins at kara@assetfunders.org.
We’re Still Hurting! From the ER to the Courtroom: How Medical Bills and Court Costs Trap People in Debt Cycles
A January 2022 virtual gathering, moderated by Talk Business and Politics host Roby Brock, provided an overview of medical debt and court costs; described how debt cycles disproportionately harm lower income communities, ALICE households, and people of color; and elevated federal, state, and hospital-led policy recommendations that could help alleviate and prevent debt traps. It also highlighted how the court system, state legislature, and local governments could enact changes to end the criminalization of poverty and reform debt collection practices. LEARN MORE
Meeting the Entrepreneurs | Made in America
- Episode 2: Sequoia Williams – That’s So You Boutique in Little Rock, AR
- Episode 3: Consuelo Rosales – Consuelo’s Cleaning Services – Jonesboro, AR
