Association Of Black Foundation Executives Inc

ABFE'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE PHILANTHROPY IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

PHILANTHROPIC ADVISINGABFE BRINGS A NEW FRAMEWORK ON RPBC TO REALIZE ITS MISSION OF PROMOTING EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE PHILANTHROPY IN BLACK COMMUNITIES. 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. WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH GRANT MAKERS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO APPLY THIS FRAMEWORK TO THEIR INVESTMENTS. IN 2021, ABFE ENGAGED 15 FOUNDATIONS AND PHILANTHROPY SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING.

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 2021, ABFE BROUGHT TOGETHER 551 PARTICIPANTS. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE WAS AGAIN A VIRTUAL CONVENING. OVER 75% OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE ABFE MEMBERS.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.

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 FOCUSED 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.