Can we talk about...? A podcast on leading for racial equity in philanthropy – Details, episodes & analysis

In episode 6 of our season on community philanthropy, Aisha Al-Amin (Development Director, Social Justice Fund), Heidi Pelletier (Chief Development Officer, Yakima Valley Community Foundation) and Musu Bakoto Sawo (Director of Fundraising and Grants, Community Foundation of Snohomish County), sit down with Mares to discuss that while grantmaking has shifted, donor relationships and fundraising is stuck in the past. They share both the challenges and joys of working with donors on creating more equitable and long-term giving strategies. 

Together, they discuss what it looks and feels like to say “no” to donors, and how, by grounding fundraising in their organization’s values, these difficult conversations can ultimately strengthen donor relationships. 

Finally, they share practical examples of how their foundations have worked to educate donors on issues such as class and race, which deepened their donors' alignment with the foundation and ultimately strengthened support for the community. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.

Mauri Ingram (CEO, Whatcom Community Foundation) and Esra Khalil (Senior Program Officer, Community Foundation of Southwest Washington) join our podcast to counter a narrative we hear too often: “we don’t have the budget and time to do equity work.”

In this episode, they explore what it means to truly resource equity — not just with dollars, but with time, energy, creativity and intention. Both leaders share how their organizations have embedded equity into budgets, professional development, board governance and daily practices, reminding us that a budget is a values statement and that thriving communities “don’t happen by accident.”

They share practical examples on redirecting existing funds, shifting board agendas, leaning on partnerships instead of recreating the wheel and big mindset shifts, like moving from scarcity to abundance. As Mauri and Esra remind us, equity work requires a willingness to let go of business as usual in order to prioritize what truly matters: relationships, values and community love. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.

Carmen James Randolf, CEO of Women’s Foundation of the South (WFS) comes onto our show to introduce the four-year-old foundation and its vision of health, wealth and power for womxn of color in the South. 

She outlines the various aspects of the foundation’s strategies, rooted in genuine care for women of color community leaders who tend to be under-recognized and underfunded. This care looks like listening, anticipating needs, protecting the community amid political threats and attacks, and giving community leaders opportunities to connect, learn and rest. 

“We need to invest in the full humanity of leaders who are doing this work,”  she says.

Finally, Carmen calls on philanthropy across the U.S. to “pay attention to what’s happening in the South,” and specifically the regressive policies that are being tested and exported to other states.

Join D’Artagnan Caliman, Vice President of Community Partnerships, and Juma Sei, Communications Manager, at 1803 Fund as they introduce the capital investment fund’s approach to advancing long-term prosperity for Portland, Oregon’s Black community. 

Throughout the episode, D’Artagnan and Juma share what Black Portland means to them and the importance of closing the gap between funder partners and community partners. Together they provide a deep dive into the fund’s grantmaking arm, sharing the frameworks and philosophies that they ground their work in. This  includes an emphasis on long-term partnership, a respect-based investment practice, a framework for accountability and a deep belief in collaboration as essential for transformation.

One month into President Trump's second presidency, Susan Taylor Batten, the President and CEO of ABFE and Lyle Matthew Kan, interim President and CEO of AAPIP (Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy), sit down with us to share stories and insights on how philanthropy is navigating the administration's efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. They acknowledge the fear and uncertainty of this moment, encouraging funders to move beyond fear and "put our privilege on the line" to move money and resources to those most impacted and at risk. They also provide tangible resources for philanthropy from the Racial Equity Advancement and Defense Initiative (READI), a collaboration with ABFE, AAPIP, NAP (Native Americans in Philanthropy) and HIP (Hispanics in Philanthropy), which models the importance of doing this work together - in partnership and community. 

Kent McGuire of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Zoe Stemm-Calderon from the Raikes Foundation sit down with Katie Hong to discuss their work on advancing equitable and inclusive public education across the United States. In this episode they share their foundations’ collaborative efforts as well as their own personal and professional experiences – both inside and outside of philanthropy – in the education space. 

Abby Sarmac hosts a conversation with Pearl Lujan from the Kindle Project’s Indigenous Women’s Flow Fund. Together, they discuss their work as intermediaries and donors together on this project, and share how slowing down helped build deep and transformative relationships with Indigenous communities. 

President and Founder of New Breath Foundation Eddy Zheng shares his personal story and experiences navigating incarceration and detention for 21 years, and how hope, healing and breath, led him to create a foundation focused on dismantling institutions of policing, incarceration and deportation. 

The foundation is unapologetically committed to building long-term power in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, as well as cross-racial solidarity to build collective liberation for all.

Full Show Notes: https://philanthropynw.org/podcast/eddy-zheng?utm_source=Podcast_Platform&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=Can_We_Talk_About_Season_2

Listen in as President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Chris Nanni weaves together personal and organizational reflections on driving equity in the most fragmented community in the Southeast. Chris shares a wealth of knowledge and ideas – particularly for listeners looking to learn from peers who are working to build bridges across their communities.

Full Episode Guide: https://philanthropynw.org/podcast/givingpractice/chris-nanni?utm_source=Podcast_Platform&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=Can_We_Talk_About_Season_2 

Empire Health Foundation Vice Chair Monica Simeon and President Zeke Smith provide insight into what advancing equity looks like for a health conversion foundation serving politically and geographically diverse communities across seven countries and three tribes in Eastern Washington.