At Asset Funders Network (AFN), it is very exciting for all of us to have philanthropy step up its regional leadership. As they do so, they and AFN can work to align efforts to move the needle together in their region and community. Last month, in San Antonio, Texas and in Santa Fe/Albuquerque, New Mexico, convenings of regional funders met and decided to establish formal regional AFNs, joining our growing network. By joining AFN, each regional adopted the mission of increasing opportunity and prosperity for low and moderate income households through philanthropy.

In both cases, health funders, family foundations, community foundations, and financial institutions (banks, bank foundations, and credit unions) are leading the way. We are thrilled to have San Antonio, as the 7th largest city in the United States, and New Mexico, as a remarkably diverse state with significant numbers of low and middle income workers and entrepreneurs in rural, urban, and native communities joining the network.

At the same time, AFN’s established regionals of Arkansas, the Bay Area, Chicago, Indiana, and North Texas all reaffirmed the value of their regional chapter with planned events and discussions of aligned strategies or funding efforts over the rest of 2017.

AFN is committed to connecting asset-building approaches with funders across the country with our content focus driven by our members. Upcoming developments include:

  • a briefing series that covers the challenges women face from entering the workforce all the way through retirement, and the catalytic change that asset building can offer;
  • examining how philanthropic investments can reap meaningful ROI in addressing income and economic instability; and
  • on-going work with funders across sectors to make post-secondary education a part of every child’s future through Children’s Savings Accounts (CSA) and linked strategies.

Working with philanthropy and other stakeholders, AFN remains committed to continue addressing ways that engage low and middle income households, incentivize individual asset-building behavior, and fund efforts to reduce (if not remove) systemic barriers in the law, regulations, or the way institutions behave to increase their asset-building efforts. At the end of the day, AFN members will continue to help move the nation to creating the opportunities to grow a strong middle class, preserve assets, secure retirees’ real financial security, and increase economic opportunities with stable income.

We look forward to working with you.

Joseph A. Antolín
Executive Director
Asset Funders Network