“Yielding is not an option if we want to undo the systemic damage that keeps people from opportunity and abundance. At PEAK Grantmaking, we believe that spurring philanthropy to drive toward racial equity and make transformational shifts to better serve disadvantaged people and communities begins with us.” Read More… The post Peak Grantmaking: 2023 Impact Report appeared first on BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington State ..read more

Heeding the call and breaking new ground In the middle of a pressure-filled workday, a sabbatical might feel like an out-of-reach oasis, if you are a BIPOC nonprofit leader carrying the weight of helping our communities thrive. But nonprofit shouldn’t mean nonstop—not if our own thriving matters too.  In a Harvard Public Health article, researcher Arline Geronimus offered a sharp truth from her 2023 book Weathering: “Living life according to the dominant social norms of personal responsibility and virtue is not universally health‑promoting. On the contrary: if you’re B ..read more

Most Americans know that nonprofits are facing financial challenges. But when it comes to the charitable giving of the wealthiest donors, few know the rules of how private foundations and Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) operate, including payout rates, reporting requirements, and tax benefits for high-wealth individuals. When they learn these details, a majority of Americans believes that changes are needed, according to a recent survey about philanthropy commissioned by Inequality.Org in partnership with the Giving Review. The survey findings, presented in this March 2024 article, affirm broa ..read more

“…without the necessary infrastructure to support their leadership, Black women have shattered glass ceilings, only to find themselves teetering on the edge of a glass cliff.”  –Thrive as They Lead report This Black History Month, we want to center Black women leaders. We are Black women who each guide a pillar of the BIPOC ED Coalition’s work (Andrea leads our advocacy efforts while Victoria guides health and wellness initiatives).  The first thing we want to say to Black women leaders is Sawubona, a Zulu greeting that means “we see you”. Sawubona, sisters. We are right here, we se ..read more

by Andrea Caupain Sanderson Each February, Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black-bodied people throughout history. It’s a time to reflect, learn, and acknowledge the struggles and triumphs of the Black community. Beyond traditional ways of lifting up Black History Month—public events, education and celebrations—there is a growing conversation among Black-bodied people about taking a quieter, more introspective approach to the month. This perspective seeks to create space for Black people to emphasize the personal and restorative aspects of Blac ..read more

In 2020, four Black women came together with a specific mission — to ignite Black generational wealth, health, and well-being across Washington state.  In pursuit of this mission, we have dedicated ourselves to a community-first approach, where listening and learning takes center stage. During the winter months of 2022, we intentionally slowed down to be thoughtful about the foundation we set as a new fund, re-rooting ourselves in our values of centering Blackness and building trust. How we work is just as important as what we work on — we want to work in ways that foster healing, connect ..read more

We are very happy to announce 20 inaugural Sabbatical Leadership awardees. These inspirational, compassionate, and brilliant leaders have been serving their communities for decades. We are eager for each of them to embark on this next phase of their journeys to experience deep rest, renewal, and restoration. And, we are looking forward to hearing about the growth of their organizations and the other leaders at their organizations. Anthony Powers Seattle Clemency Project “I would like to travel to Africa and get back in the mental space to begin writing again. I would also like the team to ..read more

There is currently $1.2 trillion in wealth warehoused in private foundations and donor-advised funds (DAFs). Money tied up for a so-called “rainy day” that seems to never come. Yet, we know our communities are braving hurricanes every day, and a bipartisan majority of Americans agree that mainstream philanthropy must radically change before we all drown.  A new national survey conducted by Ipsos and the Charity Reform Initiative at the Institute for Policy Studies has revealed that Americans across the political spectrum support bold charity reforms that align with the goals of our Equita ..read more

By Victoria Santos Victoria Santos, BIPOC ED Co-Founder, and Pramila Jayapal, Congresswoman for WA-07 In early July, I took part in the 2022 Building CAPACD Convention organized by National CAPACD (Coalition of Asian Pacific American Community Development), a progressive coalition of local organizations that advocates for and organizes in low-income AAPI communities. The Convention featured Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal as the keynote speaker. I presented as part of a panel exploring issues that are very alive for BIPOC-led nonprofits right now. The topic was: Supporting and Ret ..read more

By Massomeh Spahr, Managing Director The most important legacy that we leave behind is one that betters the lives of the generations beyond us. Our responsibility as social changemakers is to continue to forge pathways and build bridges to carry on the lessons of our elders. One of our organizational forebears in Washington state was the Minority Executive Directors Coalition (MEDC) in the 1980s. They were pioneers in creating spaces of solidarity across BIPOC groups and providing a safe haven for leaders to build connections, learn from each other, and organize their efforts as one ..read more