Leading Together 2021 - Leadership in Action
Solidarity Philanthropy in Action: Walking the Talk
Wednesday, June 16 | 3:20-4:00 p.m.
Amidst the interrelated crises of ecological collapse, systemic racism and social injustices, there is a call to action for solidarity philanthropy. This sounds good but what does it mean in practice?
To show true solidarity as a foundation requires trust-based funding, alignment between grant making and investing and that leadership and governance come from lived experience of the issues at hand.
This is the story of one foundation going from a family board to a multicultural board with majority indigenous staff, committed to a 10% annual payout and actively aligning mission with endowment. A journey that started with acknowledging the need for changes, to making key changes, which have aligned internal organizational culture with mission and programs. This is a story of where we’ve come from and also where we are headed, as there remains much work to do.
Moderator: Sonja Swift, Program Advisor, Swift Foundation
Speakers: Suzanne Benally, Executive Director, Swift Foundation; Elaine Rasmussen, Board Member, Swift Foundation & CEO, Social Impact Strategies Group
Designing Women: Why Women of Color Hold the Key to True Equity
Thursday, June 17 | 2:50-3:30 p.m.
Join us for a conversation with a group of highly experienced women of color from different sectors within philanthropy and investment who coalesced to create a Design Council, ultimately helping to build the investment strategy of a major foundation. We’ll share both their vision for the future and their practical experience from the present, exploring the aspects of a philanthropic strategy that centers women and girls of color. We’ll share learning that has come about through listening, design, and a laser focus on uncovering the areas of society that have caused the most harm for women and girls of color: economic insecurity and discrimination in investment, narratives, safety and security, and a dismissal of the needs of girls of color.
Moderator: Yvonne Moore, President, Moore Impact & Managing Director, Moore Philanthropy
Speakers: Ada Williams Prince, Lead, Program Strategy, Pivotal Ventures; Leticia Peguero, Vice President of Programs, The Nathan Cummings Foundation; Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, President, National Crittenton