ABFE

ABFE A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities

ABFE is proud to introduce the 2026 cohort of the Gladys K. Washington Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program (CLFP)—the ...
01/16/2026

ABFE is proud to introduce the 2026 cohort of the Gladys K. Washington Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program (CLFP)—the first class to carry the name of a leader whose vision helped shape the program’s foundation. 🎉 👏 For nearly two decades, CLFP has supported early- to mid-career philanthropic professionals in strengthening their leadership, advancing racial equity, and expanding their impact, and this year’s fellows step into that legacy with a shared commitment to justice, power-building, and transforming philanthropy from within.

Access the official announcement by clicking the link 🔗 in our bio or visit: https://www.abfe.org/news/honoring-legacy-welcoming-new-class-introducing-2026-gladys-k-washington-fellows

Meet the 2026 Cohort of the Gladys K. Washington Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program:
- Leatrice Fullerton, Network Partner – Economic Opportunity
- Michael Smith, Senior Program Officer
- Makia Akinola Thomas. Thomas, Program Officer
- Marcel H. Scaife MA, Senior Strategist - Initiatives
- Dana Mason, Director of Operations
- Kelvin Turner II, Program Officer
- Rasheeda McDaniels Hall, Program Officer – Emerging Strategies
- Mikaela Ferrill, Mid-Atlantic Market Manager
- Quanic Fullard, Senior Associate
- Sade Dumas, Program Director

Join us in congratulating the fellows as they begin this journey, carrying forward Gladys K. Washington’s legacy with courage, community, and purpose. 🎉

Early-bird registration for Harambee 2026 Annual Conference close THIS Friday, January 9th. This is your final chance to...
01/07/2026

Early-bird registration for Harambee 2026 Annual Conference close THIS Friday, January 9th. This is your final chance to lock in the lowest rate for the largest gathering of Black professionals in organized philanthropy.

Learn more and register now: https://www.abfe.org/harambee-conference

Want even deeper savings and exclusive benefits? Become an ABFE Member to access discounted rates, engagement opportunities, and added perks that elevate your entire Harambee experience by visiting abfe.org

ABFE is inviting nominations for new Board Members and self-nominations for the 2026 Board cycle that supports our missi...
01/06/2026

ABFE is inviting nominations for new Board Members and self-nominations for the 2026 Board cycle that supports our mission to promote effective and responsive philanthropy in Black communities.

For the upcoming Board cycle, we’re giving priority to candidates with a strong commitment to Black communities and expertise in areas such as foundation CEO/senior leadership, finance and investment, and narrative change. Only current ABFE members are eligible to nominate someone for a Board position.

Access the nomination forms by clicking the link 🔗 in our bio or visit: https://lnkd.in/ez_RhjDg
Please Note: The submission deadline is Friday, January 23rd, 2026.

We encourage candidates of diverse backgrounds, particularly those who reflect the breadth of the African diaspora within the United States, including Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, and African immigrant communities.

ABFE’s December Newsletter is now available, featuring important sector updates, member spotlights, year-end reflections...
12/22/2025

ABFE’s December Newsletter is now available, featuring important sector updates, member spotlights, year-end reflections, and announcements as we move into 2026. We invite you to read and share the latest news from across our network.

Access the newsletter by clicking the link 🔗 in our bio or visit: https://lnkd.in/eDabT7zR]

Please also note that ABFE’s offices are closed for winter break beginning Friday, December 19th, and we will reopen on Monday, January 5th. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to reconnecting in the new year.

Wishing our entire community a peaceful and restorative holiday season.

In a new Essence Magazine article titled The New Political Attacks on Black Philanthropy — And How Communities Are Fight...
12/18/2025

In a new Essence Magazine article titled The New Political Attacks on Black Philanthropy — And How Communities Are Fighting Back, authors ABFE Member Janiece Evans-Page—CEO of the Tides Foundation and LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter, Black Voters Matter Fund and Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, examine the growing federal scrutiny facing Black-led nonprofits.

They outline how recent directives targeting “political violence” have opened the door to audits, investigations, and heightened risk for Black institutions already operating with limited resources.

Read the Full Article: https://www.essence.com/news/money-career/political-attacks-black-philanthropy/

The piece underscores how these political attacks threaten not only charitable giving, but the community power structures that Black organizations have built for generations.

Despite these challenges, the article highlights the resilience and strategic response emerging across the sector. From building shared legal protections to strengthening collective infrastructure and challenging distorted narratives, Black-led organizations and their allies are organizing to defend their right to exist, serve, and advocate. We encourage you to read the full article in Essence Magazine to gain deeper insight into the moment we are navigating and the leadership rising to meet it.

In a newly released article in Fortune titled “Fund managers from diverse backgrounds are delivering standout returns ...
12/17/2025

In a newly released article in Fortune titled “Fund managers from diverse backgrounds are delivering standout returns and the smart money is slowly starting to pay attention,” ABFE Member The California Wellness Foundation ’s Chief Financial and Investment Officer, Rochelle Witharana highlights how diverse fund managers are consistently outperforming industry benchmarks—yet remain largely overlooked by institutional investors.

The article spotlights how California Wellness has aligned its nearly $1B endowment with its mission by prioritizing racially and gender-diverse fund managers—proving that strong financial returns and community impact can thrive together. It’s a powerful case for rethinking risk, reward, and who gets trusted with capital. We encourage our network to read the full article and explore what the data—and Cal Wellness—are showing about the future of investing.

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ABFE recently convened our full team to fully align around our new strategic direction—grounding us in the reimagining o...
12/16/2025

ABFE recently convened our full team to fully align around our new strategic direction—grounding us in the reimagining of our organizational priorities and affirming our shared commitment to the future we are building together. At a time when the political climate continues to test our resolve, this gathering created critical space for us to recommit to our values and deepen our collective clarity and purpose.

We opened our time together with a visit to Casa Afro, a local cultural center, where engaging with Afro-Caribbean leaders and community partners (pictured above with ABFE staff) rooted us in lived experience and set the tone for intentional dialogue and alignment throughout the week.

We concluded the convening with our ABFE Member Fundacion de Comunitaria de Puerto Rico , where our full team began to lay the groundwork for our path to 2026 by advancing our renewed areas of focus and recommitting towards our vision of effective philanthropy in Black communities.

This is the final week to submit your nominations for the 2026 James A. Joseph Lecture and Awards—ABFE’s premier celebra...
12/16/2025

This is the final week to submit your nominations for the 2026 James A. Joseph Lecture and Awards—ABFE’s premier celebration of Black leadership, vision, and impact in philanthropy. These awards stand as one of the most distinguished honors in our sector, recognizing those whose work is transforming communities and redefining what responsive, justice-centered philanthropy looks like.

Submit your nominations and help us shine a spotlight on the brilliance guiding the future of philanthropy by clicking the link 🔗 in our bio or visit: https://lnkd.in/exiy6wAz

We call on our network to uplift the trailblazers shaping our field by nominating leaders for the following honors:
- 2026 James A. Joseph Lecturer
- 2026 Institutional Award for Philanthropic Leadership
- 2026 Trailblazer in Philanthropy Award
2026 Emerging Leader in Philanthropy Award

This is your last chance to ensure the changemakers in your community are seen and celebrated.

ABFE, in partnership with Candid , is proud to release Holding the Line: Black-Led Nonprofits and Race-Explicit Work Ami...
12/11/2025

ABFE, in partnership with Candid , is proud to release Holding the Line: Black-Led Nonprofits and Race-Explicit Work Amid Backlash — a timely report examining how Black-led organizations are navigating a rapidly shifting racial and political landscape.

Grounded in new data, interviews, and stories from the field, this report highlights:
- How Black-led nonprofits are sustaining race-explicit work despite increasing external pressure
- The evolving risks, setbacks, and challenges these organizations face
- What philanthropy must do now to protect, resource, and stand with Black-led institutions

Black-led organizations continue to lead with courage, clarity, and commitment — even as the environment grows more hostile. This report underscores why investing in and protecting this work is not optional; it’s essential.

🔗 Read the full report by clicking the link in our bio or visit: https://lnkd.in/e6FW2GQt

We’re grateful to Candid and to all the leaders who shared their experiences and insights. Let’s move forward with the truth: Race-explicit work is necessary, transformative, and worth defending.

The deadline is fast approaching — don’t wait to submit! We are accepting session proposals for the Harambee 2026 Annual...
12/01/2025

The deadline is fast approaching — don’t wait to submit! We are accepting session proposals for the Harambee 2026 Annual Conference, and we’re calling on our members, partners, and changemakers to bring forward bold ideas that uplift the brilliance of our communities. Proposals are due this Friday, December 5th at 5 p.m. EST.

Learn more and submit your session proposal now by clicking the link 🔗 in our bio or visit: https://lnkd.in/e_g43ine

We’re highlighting sessions that highlight philanthropic and community-based solutions grounded in our Responsive Philanthropy in Black Communities (RPBC) tenets, including:
• Civic Engagement & Political Power
• Community Organizing & People Power
• Policy, Advocacy & System Reform
• Economic Development & Economic Power
• Research & Intellectual Power
• Communications & Narrative Change
• Leadership Development & Strategic Convenings

Your voice shapes Harambee. Your expertise strengthens our movement.

ABFE’s November Newsletter is now available! Stay connected with this month’s insights, events, and community highlights...
11/26/2025

ABFE’s November Newsletter is now available! Stay connected with this month’s insights, events, and community highlights.

Access the newsletter now by clicking the link 🔗 in our bio or visit: https://lnkd.in/egwhqFky]

Early bird registration for the Harambee 2026 Annual Conference is officially open! Early Bird Savings Close: Friday, Ja...
11/24/2025

Early bird registration for the Harambee 2026 Annual Conference is officially open! Early Bird Savings Close: Friday, January 9th, 2026

Learn more and register now: https://lnkd.in/eMitUrtQ
Become an ABFE Member: https://lnkd.in/e_KXPuqx

Rooted in the legacy of Bay Area activism, Harambee 2026 will celebrate the cultural and political resistance of Black communities while creating a powerful space to learn, activate, and uplift strategies that move us toward racial equity, justice, and liberation. Now is the perfect time to secure your spot at the largest gathering of Black professionals in organized philanthropy while locking in the lowest rates of the year.

Want to save even more and officially join a membership of philanthropic professionals, nonprofit leaders, individual donors, and sector partners committed to the advancement of Black communities? Become an ABFE Member and gain access to exclusive discounts, engagement opportunities, and added benefits that will elevate your Harambee experience. Don’t wait—join the movement, claim your savings, and get ready to Harambee!

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