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August 2, 2021   |   By The New York Community Trust
Smart philanthropy: Looking at grantmaking through a racial equity lens

This summer, The Trust is speaking with experts about contemporary issues in philanthropy.

These interactive briefings give our donors an opportunity to think about their philanthropic legacy and how to align it with their personal vision and values. To learn more about joining our community of compassionate donors, contact our vice president for donor relations, John Oddy, at jjo@nyct-cfi.org or click here.

In 2020, the killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans by police sparked protests across the country and led many to think anew about how to eliminate systemic racism in all of its forms. To help The Trust’s community of donors make a difference, two of our staff members discussed how people can approach their charitable giving with an eye toward promoting racial equity. What follows are several excerpts of the conversation between Salem Tsegaye, program officer for arts, culture, and historic preservation at The New York Community Trust, and Sol Marie Alfonso-Jones, senior program officer at the Long Island Community Foundation.

Look beyond “the usual suspects.”
Alfonso-Jones explains that some smaller organizations may not be immediately obvious, but are worth seeking out.

Invest in leaders of color
Tsegaye advises donors to examine whether an organization is representative of the community it serves.

Holistic problem-solving
Alfonso-Jones advises to look “upstream” to build long-term solutions.

Consider long-term support
Tsegaye suggests donors consider multi-year support so nonprofits can sustain themselves.

Think systemically
Because systemic racism is woven through many institutions, Tsegaye discusses how donors should look at the big picture.

Press Contact Information

Peter Panapento
peter@turn-two.co
(202) 531-3886

Courtney Biggs
cbi@nyct-cfi.org
(212) 889-3963

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Press Contact Information

Peter Panapento
peter@turn-two.co
(202) 531-3886

Courtney Biggs
cbi@nyct-cfi.org
(212) 889-3963

>> Get our press kit <<

Statue of Liberty in Red