Institute for Strategic and Equitable Development

Presidents' Forum on Racial Equity in Philanthropy

The Presidents' Forum on Racial Equity in Philanthropy is a project of the Institute for Strategic and Equitable Development, which in partnership with Keecha Harris and Associates provides a space for foundation senior leaders to hold frank, open, and forward-looking conversations about what it takes to advance racial equity in philanthropy. The Sankofa Series is the second year of programming produced in collaboration with ABFE that explores the landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion in philanthropy in the wake of the Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action in higher education in the Students for Fair Admissions cases of 2023. The Sankofa Series will provide senior leaders in philanthropy with resources, networking, examples, and inspiration to hold the line in advancing racial equity in their institutions and the foundation sector.

Presidents' Forum on Racial Equity in Philanthropy

The Institute for Strategic and Equitable Development (ISED), founded in 2017 and based in Bennettsville, SC, is a nonprofit organization that works to promote impactful grantmaking, investments, and economic development in communities of color through strategic planning, evaluation, project management, and technical assistance services. ISED primarily partners with Keecha Harris and Associates (KHA) to design professional development initiatives for foundation leadership and staff. ISED is the fiscal sponsor of the Presidents’ Forum on Racial Equity (Forum), the aim of which is to provide training that addresses implicit bias and systemic inequities, peer-to-peer support, and skilled guidance on how foundation leaders can further racial equity through their work. This grant provides support for the Forum’s activities over the course of 2022-2024.

Presidents' Forum on Racial Equity in Philanthropy

The Institute for Strategic and Equitable Development (ISED) is a nonprofit organization that works to promote impactful grantmaking, investments, and economic development in communities of color through strategic planning, evaluation, project management, and technical assistance services. ISED primarily partners with Keecha Harris and Associates (KHA) to design professional development initiatives for foundation leadership and staff. ISED is the fiscal sponsor of the Presidents’ Forum on Racial Equity (Forum), and it contracts with KHA and other appropriate racial equity-focused consultants to implement activities that engage foundation presidents and senior organizational leaders in a series of one- to two-day in-person and virtual leadership professional development sessions. The aim of these sessions is to provide training that addresses implicit bias and systemic inequities, peer-to-peer support, and skilled guidance on how foundation leaders can further racial equity through their work. This award supports costs associated with professional services and communications. The intended outcome of this work is that U.S. foundations will be better equipped to examine their policies, processes, and practices to ensure they promote racial equity.

Presidents' Forum on Racial Equity in Philanthropy

The Institute for Strategic and Equitable Development (ISED) is a nonprofit organization that works to promote impactful grantmaking, investments, and economic development in communities of color through strategic planning, evaluation, project management, and technical assistance services. It designs professional development initiatives for foundation leadership and staff. Through its Presidents’ Forum on Racial Equity (Forum), ISED engages foundation presidents and senior organizational leaders in a series of one- to two-day professional development sessions. The aim of these sessions is to provide training that addresses implicit bias and systemic inequities, peer-to-peer support, and skilled guidance on how foundation leaders can further racial equity through their work. This award supports costs associated with convening the members of the Forum, including travel, venue and catering expenses, and facilitator fees. The intended outcome of this work is that U.S. foundations will be better equipped to examine their policies, processes, and practices to ensure they promote racial equity.