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In partnership with the San Francisco Foundation and the Women Donors Network, on May 20th, EBCF had the privilege of hosting the Donors of Color Network event, entitled “Diversity in Philanthropy: Understanding, Engaging, and Networking the High Net Worth Donor of Color.”

The evening began with brief introductions from EBCF President & Chief Executive Officer, James W. Head, and EBCF Director of Strategic Initiatives, Sachi Yoshii, followed by a captivating presentation by Hali Lee and Ashindi Maxton from the Donors of Color Network. Lee and Maxton shared their groundbreaking research on high net worth donors of color, as well as their work to build a donors of color network that focuses giving on the most pressing issues and needs among communities of color.

The study, entitled, “The Apparitional Donor: Understanding and Engaging High Net Worth Donors of Color” provides a landscape analysis that examines the giving patterns and priorities of high net worth people of color and is available for download here. Among its core findings is that while donors of color are generous and philanthropically engaged, they are often invisible to mainstream philanthropy and largely not even known to each other. The presentation exposes the critical reality about the lack of diversity and inclusion that is so prevalent within the philanthropic sector, and helps make clear the opportunity for those in philanthropy to create spaces where donors of color are fully seen, celebrated, and activated.

Following their presentation, Lee and Maxton invited two special guests to share their involvement in the Donors of Color Network, and the opportunity that the network provides for high net worth donors of color. After the panel, the audience was given an opportunity to ask questions and share in the discussion. The event was also streamed online via Facebook Live, where viewers were also able to take part in the discussion. The evening concluded with closing remarks from Kay Fernandez Smith of the San Francisco Foundation, who emphasized the importance of the work being done by the Donors of Color Network.

If you missed this engaging and informative event, we encourage you to watch the pre-recorded stream on the EBCF Facebook page. Don’t forget to like and follow us for more streamed events like this one in the future.
Thank you to all who joined us for a fantastic evening of learning, engaging, and networking. We look forward to sharing our space with you for future events. To learn more about EBCF’s work with the Donors of Color Network, contact Donor Services at dsas@eastbaycf.org.

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