Association of Black Foundation Executives

Annual conference and james joseph lectureabfe's annual conference is a gathering of philanthropic and non-profit professionals for networking and engagement around shared interest in supporting Black communities through philanthropy. The target audience is abfe's members and partners; Foundation trustees, executive staff and program officers, grant making entities including private foundations, corporate giving programs, donor-advised funds and giving circles. In 2023, abfe convened at the raleigh convention center in downtown raleigh, nc, and focused on five of the 10 imperatives included in its call to action; issue areas that are not only at the heart of needed investment and change, but area critical to the organization's commitment to responsive philanthropy in Black communities (rpbc) framework. These priority areas included: (1) a push for structural change, (2) engaging Black business, (3) lifting up gender, (4) reaching the diaspora, and (5) addressing disparities in prisons. The 2023 annual conference brought together 791 participants (720 in-person, 71 virtual). 64% of the participants were abfe members, and nearly 100 registrants were Foundation board trustees. We also celebrated what has been a signature program for abfe for over 30 years, the james a. joseph lecture and awards, which celebrated the important accomplishments of leaders in the field.

Philanthropic advising servicesabfe brings a new framework on responsive philanthropy to realize its mission of promoting effective and responsive philanthropy in Black communities (rpbc). This new template builds upon grantmaking with a racial equity lens but is tailored specifically to grantmaking in and for Black communities. As a result, abfe has designed a set of defining characteristics of philanthropy that is more likely to reduce gaps in racial disparities facing blacks in the united states. This year, we expanded the rpbc framework engage a broad range of institutional and individual participants with varying levels of fluency in the sustainable development goals and abfe's rpbc (responsive philanthropy in Black communities) racial equity framework. For the 2023 year, abfe engaged approximately 35 foundations, corporations, nonprofits and philanthropy serving organizations to deliver racial equity training, associated trainings and technical assistance.

Membership servicesabfe equips its members and partners with tools and resources to respond more effectively to the needs of Black communities and to address anti-black racism. Abfe uses its position and networks in the field to share information for the express purpose of influencing policies and practices in the field that may hinder the success of Black professionals or communities. Our responsive philanthropy in Black communities (rpbc) framework for grantmaking supports the dignity of communities and optimizes inherent strengths to ensure better outcomes for Black communities. Abfe also offers a variety of opportunities for members and other professionals in the field to exchange information and ideas, and to cultivate productive relationships that often result in learning, co-investment, and expanded social and professional opportunities and communities. Our professional and leadership development primarily focuses on members' interests. Abfe provides information and other resources that inform grantmaking strategies and support career and leadership development for Black professionals in the field.

Black community funders networkthe Black communities funders network is an exclusive network for Black philanthropic leaders who lead 'Black funds' at community foundations and Black leaders of funds designed to support Black communities and black-led organizations. Our network provides a safe container for Black philanthropic leaders to strategize on building autonomy, increasing endowments, and pushing for structural change for Black people in our respective communities. Connecting leaders fellowship program (clfp)clfp is a year-long experience designed to sharpen the skills and strengthen the leadership capacity of Foundation staff, donors, and trustees who are committed to assisting Black communities through philanthropy. Fellows get the opportunity to learn from seasoned grantmakers and peers on a regular basis, understand how to be more effective agents for change within their institutions, and participate in a network that focuses on innovative solutions to community challenges. The fellowship begins with a week-long leadership summit. In addition, fellows conduct a 360-degree evaluation and are assigned a leadership coach. Each fellow is required to complete a community-based learning project during the fellowship year, which can be volunteer work or a research project on a topic of interest. Ten new clfp fellows embarked on a profound journey of Black philanthropic learning, leadership, and legacy. The connecting leaders fellowship summit marked the commencement of abfe's 18th class conducted its third in-person leadership summit since 2019, hosted in the historic city of baltimore, marylandleverage the trust - caleverage the trust - California is a network of about 40 Black Foundation trustees committed to addressing impacts of anti-black racism in California. This network has focused on ensuring philanthropic support for reparations in the state of California and has hosted policy briefings with state and federal policy makers on various matters concerning the well-being of Black californians. Black women in philanthropy (bwip) - conferencein 2023 abfe celebrated its 10th annual Black women in philanthropy leadership (bwip) retreat, a gathering of over 100 Foundation presidents, ceos, and "mid-level managers/alum of our connecting leaders fellowship program otherwise known as "rising sisters." The event was designed to create both peer-group and cross-generation opportunities to support the full diversity of participating women. The gathering grants space for delving into the issues, barriers, strengths, and opportunities Black women face in each of their respective roles. This year, specifically, the convening will prioritize self-care as we invite sisters to reconcile the intersectionality of their professional demands and personal needs by engaging one another in fellowship and purposeful dialogue. Gently facilitated through their participation in intimate conversations centered around healing and restoration, the convening ultimately aims to serve as a way for sisters in philanthropy to further their shared capacity to lead, direct, and serve more effectively. The 2023 annual bwip retreat took place august 24th - 26, 2023 at the carambola beach resort in st. croix, us virgin islands.black women in philanthropy (bwip) - networkthis is peer-to-peer network of Black Foundation ceos and senior leaders interested in building community and furthering dialog and support. This network includes past attendees of our annual bwip conference. This network does not meet virtually.congressional Black caucusabfe, in partnership with jp morgan chase, presented the 5th iteration of its panel series at the congressional Black caucus Foundation's annual legislative conference. Titled "the scales of economic justice: examining the balance of philanthropy, Black business, and racial equity," the session aimed to explore collaborative pathways for creating monumental shifts in philanthropy. Leveraging abfe's "responsive philanthropy in Black communities" framework, in alignment with progress generated through jp morgan chase's $30 billion-dollar racial equity commitment and the success of its "advancing Black pathways" program designed to help the Black community chart stronger paths toward economic success and empowerment, the session centered on the examination of the role of funders' whose racial equity commitments aim to advance entrepreneurial opportunity, make access to business and organizational development resources more equitable, and spur job creation in sectors that lack racial diversity and representation. Corporate community of practicethis network is designed to support corporate philanthropic professionals as they advocate for Black communities within the context of their roles and positions of influence. The overarching goal of the network is to adopt a commitment to long term racially equitable policies and funding strategies within their corporate giving initiatives.readiled by abfe, readi is a partnership between abfe and three racial and ethnic identity focused philanthropic affinity groups, to redress the impacts of the supreme court's decision to ban affirmative action in higher education and the ripple effect it is having in philanthropy. Abfe's leadership identified a four-part strategy to both assist with defending racial equity and racial justice gains and to support the further advancement of racial justice within the sector and beyond. The strategy includes supporting civil rights and legal defense groups in the announcing and dissemination of pro bono legal counsel resources for nonprofits; designing and implementing a communications and narrative campaign; establishing a repository of resources helpful for nonprofits, philanthropies and other entities looking to advance racial equity in these challenging political times; and finally establishing a legal fund to pay for legal counsel for nonprofits that are threatened with legal action by opponents of racial equity and justice.other programs:other programs include engagements with abfe's partnerships and networks in the Black communities, research, and funders collaborative work. One of these networks is smart investing which is a network of investment officers and asset managers committed to diverse and inclusive investment management practices in philanthropy. In 2011, we launched the smart investing initiative in hopes of increasing the number of minority and women-owned firms managing Foundation endowments. We view a commitment to diverse asset managers as a game changera strategy that builds economic power and indigenous philanthropy in Black communities and communities of color more broadly. Smart investment consists of a network of Foundation investment officers and diverse asset managers who are committed to racially equitable investment practices. Another network is the umoja circle, a national network of Black Foundation ceos that come together regularly to discuss philanthropy's role in addressing the social and economic inequities impacting the Black community. Since its inception the network has focused on leveraging the collective power and voice to address the impacts of anti-black racism. Recently the network has focused on supporting a southern funding strategy to specifically support black-led and focused infrastructure in nonprofits and community centered institutions including hbcus. Another program is the national leverage the trust, which is a signature community of practice in abfe's portfolio of leadership convenings and aims to engage Black Foundation trustees through peer networking and learning opportunities. The work of leverage the trust is led by a committee of dedicated trustees of philanthropic institutions that are representative of the diversity of geography, type, and size of grantmaking entities in the sector, and aims to increase the number and capacity of Black trustees at philanthropic organizations; and to engage Black trustees in supporting a racial equity agenda within their institutions and the throughout the sector. Hosted at the esteemed national council of negro women in Washington, dc on october 26th and 27th, the 1.5-day event comprised of a private welcome reception followed by a full day of programming and conversation. The event is dedicated to amplifying the influence of Black trustees in philanthropy, stands as a testament to abfe's commitment to impactful leadership and advancing racial equity in the sector.