Accelerating

Action

Become a Member: Join colleagues to advance economic opportunity and economic well-being at a scale none of us could achieve alone.

MAINSTAGE SESSIONS

Brandee McHale

Citi Foundation

I believe AFN is the original system change leader — the network has always tried to understand the underlying root causes of economic inequality and adopt the role of bridge builders between different philanthropic fields, sectors, regions, and cultures. As the issues facing our communities become more complex and intersected, we all need to do that more than ever.

Qiana Thomason

Health Forward

Private foundations can advocate. You cannot lobby. But there are vast and permissible opportunities that we need to step into as a sector, particularly at the city and county levels. That's the only way that we're going to get systemic change.

Act on the statement “neutrality is not an option”

Tracey Greene-Washington

Indigo Innovation Group and CoThinkk

We invite philanthropy to lean in, slow down, and get proximal with the community. We invite you to play an intentional role in centering and elevating the voice, power, and innovation by walking alongside each other as critical partners, peers, and co-architects in this asset and wealth-building movement.

Stephanie Gutierrez

Seven Fires

I know poverty, I know struggle, but I also know resistance. So I know I can say no to funding and be fine. That’s where communities are now. We’re demanding that you sit with us, talk with us, learn our ways and be able to translate them into the world we live in.

Claudia Arroyo

Prospera

Tension is good. But the central tension we want to avoid is imposing agendas in a community that believes and attends to needs that it does not ask to be attended to. Invite them to sit at the table with us, and that’s a tension we bring to our funders. Let’s talk, and let’s unlearn together.

Aria Florant

Liberation Ventures

The paradox is that we're fighting for our humanity, which means we will make ​mistakes. That means that we will cause harm, and we will have to repair it. But ​for me, that benefits all of us. We all want to live in a world where if we cause ​harm or harm is caused to us, we are held, and we have the skills to repair. ​That's how we build a world where we all belong.

Ryan Haygood

New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

When we talk about racial disparities that come from Black people, we don't often talk about the advantages that came to white people by design. Even though we know it's uncomfortable, you can't do meaningful work without leaning into these uncomfortable positions.

Dr. Andre Perry

Brookings Metro

Just as policies of exclusion often start at the local level, policies of inclusion can be resourced and work their way up to the national level. So I think it is really asking the question, ‘What will you do in local communities for this effort?’

Mendi Blue Paca

Fairfield County's Community Foundation

I've heard many conversations in philanthropy where we pose the question, 'Should we engage in policy?' And then it immediately goes to 'What might happen if we do? Is it too risky? Will we lose our donors, constituents, and customers?' The question we need to ask is, 'What will happen if we don't?'

Jessamyn Sabbag

San Francisco Foundation

Be cognizant that there's likely an advocacy and organizing infrastructure already in your community that has been working at this long before it became du jour. And it's probably under-resourced. Make your role to understand this ecosystem, resourcing the people already doing the work and then finding the lane where you are uniquely positioned to amplify your voice and influence.

Liz Brister

Entergy

While companies typically have legislative matters central to their operations, ​they won't always be out front on things like this. However, with our support, ​AFN has the opportunity to step forward and take a leading role. That's why ​policy engagement and funding groups like AFN are critical.

John-Michael Cortez

Google Fiber

It's not just about the wins. We love those policy victories, but it's also about ​what we leave behind, the infrastructure we build, the leaders we develop, the ​narratives we change.

Regional Roundup

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman

Editor, The Black Agenda: Bold Solutions for a Broken System

We need equity-focused data, yet the current climate's reluctance has led to dwindling interest and funding for these crucial issues. We need next-generation researchers who are building on earlier foundations and have the boldness and bravery to dig into the narratives, numbers, and nuances of both.

Folks in my generation are focused on equity because we recognize that we ​will be left with its consequences. We know where the talent is and where ​the organizing efforts need to happen. Fund those individuals and be the ​catalyst for change.

Philanthropy misses the target group a lot of times. With youth-led ​initiatives, when the support goes directly to those on the ground, it makes ​these efforts incredibly impactful.

BREAKOUT

SESSIONS

Diversifying efforts in housing policy is crucial, but without funding, ​momentum can be stunted. Once the first project is successful, it often ​paves the way for more. Additionally, addressing homeownership alongside ​rental affordability is vital, viewing housing as a spectrum of needs and ​aiming to transition individuals towards stable housing situations.

A syndicate helps developers utilize tax credits by selling them to businesses at a discounted rate, covering the capital gap for development projects. This strategy, while less common in regions like Arkansas compared to states like California and New York, effectively leverages funds to support regional development initiatives.

You have to decenter the assumption that you are just down-market ​banking from big institutions to CDFIs and flip the narrative to ‘How do you ​co-create financial products and services?’

We need patient capital. And while not all CDFIs are equal, what's true is that we're deeply connected with the community. When you do your research and get to know your CDFI, trust them to know their community.

CDFIs cannot go it alone. We are intentionally a cross-sector network because capital is one piece. The way that small businesses will thrive in a neighborhood is not just the injection of new capital and startup loans. It is a holistic approach to supporting those small businesses and the customers and workers they serve.

Upgrading existing jobs entails wage increases and flexible scheduling to ​accommodate childcare responsibilities and transportation stipends for ​employees without access to cars.

To transition to employee ownership, workforce collaboratives can facilitate ​local businesses' engagement by bringing them to the table while national ​intermediaries provide technical assistance. This process requires ​expertise, capital, and trust-building at the local level, and collaboratives ​play a crucial role in bridging this gap.

Approximately 17 million households with children hold court debt. These ​families often face difficulties in meeting basic needs such as food, housing, ​childcare, and healthcare due to the burden of this unmonitored and largely ​untracked debt.

Fee reform often involves elimination, but this can lead to backfilling to ​compensate for their perceived loss of revenue. As funds return to courts ​and counties, advocacy at the local level aims to ensure that this money ​benefits communities rather than being directed to entities like the sheriff or ​probation departments.

The current models of structured, for-profit home care agencies and independent caregivers are ineffective. Our solution involves leveraging the expertise of caregivers in our community to establish a cooperative model. Here, every member is an owner, empowered with a voice, and shares in the success of the business.

The involvement of C-suite executives, who grasp the impact of childcare on their bottom line, has been pivotal in our advocacy efforts. Having CEOs advocate alongside us lends significant weight when presenting our case to local and state legislators.

Embrace evaluation methods conducive to fostering the narrative change necessary for lasting impact, recognizing that transformative change is a generational endeavor. Prioritize centering the voices of those facing the greatest inequities. Invest in collaborative initiatives and utilize grant-making funds strategically to challenge and overcome the scarcity mindset, particularly in the realm of revenue and taxation.

With multiple states attempting to pass preemption laws hindering city and ​county funding for direct cash assistance programs, our resolve remains ​unyielding. A foundation is a private company, they can't dictate how we ​allocate resources. Despite the risks, it's crucial to persevere and intensify our ​efforts, as these challenges are often intended to deter funders, programs, and ​elected officials. Even without city and county support, we need to forge ahead, ​doubling down on our narrative strategy and seeking opportunities to form ​stronger coalitions.

I could give you all the data and evidence in the world as to why direct cash ​intervention works. Yet, ultimately, the deep-seated narratives and stereotypes ​fueling our unjust and racist policies will overshadow that evidence every time. ​It’s essential to have those directly impacted by these issues join us in forums ​like this, sharing their stories.

Debt-free credential strategies need to go beyond paying colleges directly to ​avoid scholarship displacement and payment delays for students. By offering ​diverse financial assistance avenues, like 529 plans, emergency cash ​assistance, and completion and reconnection funds, we can creatively address ​students' financial needs and enhance their educational success.

We must challenge entrenched narratives of deservingness and worthiness in education funding. We need to trust our students fully. If we hesitate to trust them with the resources we provide, we need to question our role in funding. Our students have proven themselves every step of the way, from applying to college to earning scholarships. It's time to lift them up, maximize their potential, and let them seize the opportunities they've earned.

We aim to establish a Marshall plan for broadband access, leveraging forthcoming funds to align with infrastructure initiatives. It's crucial to note that these funds are one-time only and require expenditure by December 31st, 2028. Our strategy involves funding activities now, with the anticipation that philanthropy will assist in scaling beyond '27 and '28 and into the future.

Broadband is often viewed through a business lens rather than as a utility requiring sustained public sector commitments and investments. It's crucial to challenge the notion that current funding opportunities are singular or that future allocations will be scarce as infrastructure demands continuous investment. Our technology needs will only increase over time, making future bandwidth requirements uncertain.

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