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Our Story
Launched in August 2019, the Black Funders Network of the Bay Area was established to organize soulful, inclusive, and rewarding environments for funders and philanthropy professionals to learn, strategize, and re-energize to best support Black communities and organizations across disciplines.
We aim to create opportunities that ensure Black funders (and their allies) have an abundance of financial resources, information, confidence, and positional power to support Black-led organizations and initiatives. As a LinkedIn-based community, we use the platform to stay engaged with our members, send reminders for programs, updates, and share other relevant information.
Paula Ambrose
“I believe in the truth of our connectedness as a community.”
Board Co-Chair
Byron Johnson
Board Co-Chair
"In order to invoke change in our community, we must first actively participate in educating ourselves on our collective needs."
Co-Founder and Board Member
James W. Head
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.”
Steve Barton
Co-Founder and Board Member
“Being in the field is critically important to inform resources, knowledge, access, and expertise getting to Black communities.”
Cedric Brown
Co-Founder
“Servicing Black communities is not only my responsibility, it is also self-renewing.”
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Board Member
Anitra Smith
“My joy and liberation is deeply connected to being of service to my community.”
Raquiba LaBrie
"I do the work because racial justice and social justice feed me intellectually, politically and spiritually.”
Board Member
Dakarai I. Aarons
Board Member
"There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up"
Liz Posey
Board Member
“Leadership must be collective, not individual.”
Kavell Brown
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Board Member
Staff
Chantel Walker
Managing Director
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”
Zoe Broussard
Program Manager
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"You make progress by implementing ideas."
Our Commitment
We are intentional, progressive, and unapologetically dedicated to serving and advocating for multifaceted Black communities in the Bay Area. We are committed to our core values, which guide our work and decision-making as an organization.
Love of Black People
We love and value Black people, Black culture, and Black history.
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Safety and Inclusion
We create inclusive environments in our Network activities so that all participants feel welcomed, validated, comfortable, and able to enjoy their authentic selfhood.
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Thought Leadership
We pair bold thought leadership with impactful action, holding space for radical imagination and possibility within and beyond the limits of our current systems and institutions.
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To serve as strong advocates for Black communities, we must be active, accountable, and collaborative partners who work to understand the needs articulated by our communities.
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Connection to Community
Courage
We act with foresight, strategy, and boldness, even amid headwinds.
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Human Dignity
We believe that all people deserve to be valued and have access to the resources needed to reach self-actualization.
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Learning
We are committed to learning and evolving to best fulfill our mission.
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