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Equity in Investment Opportunity for Early Childhood Leadership – What it Means for EC Funders

This event was held on July 1, 2021 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

Part of ECFC’s 1st & 3rd Thursday Funder Call Series, open to all funders and philanthropy serving organizations.

In the context of three national crises, including massive racial justice organizing, COVID-19 pandemic, and a financial crisis, early childhood funders recognize the need to focus more intensely on Black leaders, young Black children, their families, and communities.  Funders themselves seek to be inclusive toward marginalized Black communities that have experienced historical oppression and have been systematically disinvested in over many years.

On this Thursday Funders Call, we discussed an ECFC-commissioned report by Dr. Sherri Killins Stewart on the professional experiences of Black early childhood leaders, including their experiences with philanthropy.    On the call, ECFC announced an opportunity for ECFC members to participate in an Action Partners Workshop series designed to respond to the findings and advance the recommendations in the report.

Event Takeaways

ECFC commissioned qualitative interviews with 21 Black not for profits leaders who benefit Black children and their families. These organizations were located in 10 states and included six national organizations. The interviews revealed opportunities and challenges in five areas: infrastructure, relationships, strategies, leadership, and investment. The themes from the interviews led to four recommendations: determine the benefit to Black children and families of investments; explore past and current practices or experiences with Black leaders within Foundations; expand networks to include more Black Leaders and increase funding for organizational capacity within Black-led organizations.

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