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

In our final episode, four TGP Senior Advisors – Katie Hong, Lisa McGill, Abby Sarmac and Lalitha Vaidyanathan – reflect on the stories we heard across Season 1, sharing perspectives and advice based on their work as consultants supporting a diversity of philanthropy boards and leaders along their racial equity journeys.

Together they reflect on the moment we’re in as a philanthropic sector and acknowledge the critical work of infrastructure groups who’ve paved the way for philanthropy to take on equity and justice like the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) and Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP). They explore the work of racial equity at the personal, interpersonal, organizational and systemic levels and emphasize that there’s no roadmap or one right way. 

Finally, they drive home the importance of moving this work forward as a community. “We need each other for transformation…and if you’re embarking on this work, you’re not alone. You’re absolutely not alone.” Katie shares. 

In 2020, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation committed $150M to support racial justice alongside the development of an entirely new office – the Office of Culture, Race and Equity – to incorporate equity efforts across the foundation’s culture, operations, and grantmaking. 

In this episode, President Larry Kramer and Chief Equity Officer Charmaine Mercer reflect on what it took to get there and how their unique decentralized approach – called “the Hewlett Way” – played a role. 

Along the way, Larry provides visibility into his role as a translator between the staff and board; Charmaine shares the foundation’s approach to advancing racial justice across 18 unique teams and 130 staff members; and together they emphasize the importance of trusting and supporting those closest to the work. 

In this special episode, founding members of The Share Fund, Estakio Beltran, Bill Marklyn and Holly Marklyn take us beyond the bounds of traditional governance and philanthropy, and into a new world of giving that makes the redistribution of wealth and power a reality. The Share Fund is an LLC rather than a foundation and is managed through a participatory process where community leaders like Estakio make all funding decisions and funders, Holly and Bill, play funding and support roles. Holly, Bill, Estakio and the other community leaders also receive support from the team at Phīla Engaged Giving to bring their vision to life. 

Across their conversation, our three guests share powerful stories of designing and experiencing philanthropy that is joyful, relational and community-driven. They illuminate some of the limitations of traditional philanthropy structures, mindsets and practices, encouraging us to grow into new ways of thinking and working. “Wealth should not, in my view, be the reason for power, which is what The Share Fund is all about. It’s trying to decouple wealth and power,” Holly shares, as an example. 

Judy Belk (senior advisor and former president and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation, also known as “Cal Wellness”) and Debra Nakatomi (CEO of NakatomiPR, trustee and former board chair of The California Wellness Foundation) exchange powerful stories of their experiences with race from childhood to the present, reflecting on what’s possible when foundations lead with lived experience.  

Together they underscore the importance of intentionality in board recruitment, accountability at the board level and the willingness to be pushed in this work. As they reflect on Cal Wellness’ journey, they present a blueprint for how foundations can go beyond their grantmaking dollars – using their voice, endowments and power of their trustees – to maximize their service to communities. 

Listen in as Monika Kalra Varma, the first BIPOC president & CEO of BoardSource, and Julia Wilson, BoardSource’s outgoing board chair, share powerful stories and reflections on their experiences tackling the complexities of race equity work head on as a united front at BoardSource. 

Together they give us a behind-the-scenes look at the intentional work of designing and cultivating a board culture that supports, sustains and advances race equity leadership: one that creates space for leaders to show up as they are and encourages “talking about the real stuff out loud” – even when it’s hard. A culture that is fueled by authenticity and propelled by trust. 

Along the way Monika and Julia discuss the realities of leadership transitions - and especially those of historic firsts. They reflect deeply on their personal experiences and share gratitude for a journey that has been both sacred and transformational.

En este episodio, Tanya Edelin y Dilcia Molina-Sanchez comparten sus experiencias como miembros de la junta directiva de la Fundación if para Radical Possibility. 

A lo largo de su conversación, Tanya y Dilcia comparten cómo se siente estar en una junta que está dispuesta a ser radical, participar en las conversaciones difíciles y tomar medidas para transferir el poder a la comunidad; una junta que prioriza la inclusión, ofreciendo remuneraciones a los miembros de la junta comunitaria y servicios de interpretación de idiomas en cada reunión y continúa haciendo ajustes a medida que se diversifican aún más, para que todos los miembros puedan participar plenamente.

Ofrecen información sobre lo que le tomó a la organización llegar a donde está hoy, al mismo tiempo que reconocen y nombran el trabajo que aún debe hacerse para construir una base verdaderamente diversa y equitativa.

La conversación de Tanya y Dilcia cuenta con el apoyo de dos intérpretes de idiomas, Elizabeth McMeekin y Kathy Ogle. En la grabación en español, escucharás a Elizabeth como la voz de Tanya.

In this episode, Tanya Edelin and Dilcia Molina share their experiences as board members of the if Foundation for Radical Possibility. 

Throughout their conversation, Tanya and Dilcia share what it feels like to be on a board that is willing to be radical, sit in the hard conversations, and take action to shift power to community; a board that prioritizes inclusion – offering stipends to community board members and language interpretation services at every meeting – and is continuing to make adjustments as they diversify even more, so all members can fully participate. 

Together, they offer insight into what it took for the organization to get where it is today while recognizing and naming the work that still needs to be done in order to build a truly diverse and equitable foundation. 

Tanya and Dilcia’s conversation is supported by two language interpreters, Elizabeth McMeekin and Kathy Ogle. In the English recording, you will hear Kathy as the voice of Dilcia. 

In this episode, Beth McCaw (Founding Funder of Threshold) and LeAnne Moss (Executive Director of Renton Regional Community Foundation) share honest reflections of their personal journeys as white women in anti-racist work.

Together they dig into the process of embodiment – of moving racial equity from an intellectual exercise in your head with reports, data points, and understandings of history to a commitment you feel in your heart and whole body with emotions like guilt, shame, discomfort and joy. And they talk about why this can be particularly difficult for white-bodied people. 

They share the importance of boards being willing to make mistakes and interrogate what they do and why, and they acknowledge that all of the work - both personal and organizational - is messy. Amid the messiness, leaders need to remember to take care of themselves. (And yes, even for those of you who think self-care sounds “woo-woo”). “Sometimes it's hard to be the bird at the front or the bug on the windshield,” Beth acknowledges. 

Listen in as Sharon (President and CEO, Yakima Valley Community Foundation) and Brenda (CEO Headwaters Foundation of Montana) share how they’ve worked with their boards and staff to transform their organizational cultures and center racial equity amid rural, politically conservative environments.  

Along the way, Brenda shares the complexities of doing this work as a Brown woman in a conservative state, Sharon normalizes emotion and heart in the workplace, and together they emphasize that it’s not only okay to be completely human, but also necessary to move this work forward.