As more foundations step into support social justice movements and grassroots organizing, it is imperative that as a sector we do our own work to dismantle harmful practices that we perpetuate – so that this influx of funding and support does not come with an influx of extractive, top-down philanthropy.
Jazmin Segura, Director of the Fund for an Inclusive California
As part of the reflection and learning of the first phase of the Fund for an Inclusive California from 2018-2022, we are leading the planning of the second phase of the fund grounded in the these values:
There is a robust team in place to lead and engage in this strategic planning process, including the Strategy Working Group made up of nine Community Advisors who will lead strategy development, including the Fund’s future vision, values, and power building goals and strategies. F4ICA staff and consultants who support the working group and are responsible for implementation of the plan. See the full list of Strategy Working Group members, F4ICA staff and consultants
Community Advisors are organizations who have partnered with F4ICA in the first four years of work. They will have the opportunity to provide feedback and input on the plan and identify near-term regional priorities through one-on-one meetings, regional gatherings and strategy sessions.
The F4ICA Steering Committee is made up of funding partners across the state who will lend their insights and leadership in strategic planning around funder organizing goals and resource mobilization.
We are moving through the phases of design, development and implementation as they are laid out below, directed by the Strategy Working Group, and gathering insights and direction from our community partners every step of the way.
Currently we are in Phase 2 – refining specific regional priorities within the overall vision, goals and strategies, culminating in a gathering of our partners in August 2022.
Their vision is to shift the current paradigm of housing as an extractive tool for investment in the financial market, to housing recognized as a basic human need and human right. It is a vision where communities are stewards of the land they live on and determine how that land is used, not for profit, but for the well-being of the people that live there.
It is envisioning a future where people of color, particularly Black and Indigenous people most harmed by systemic racism, can live and thrive in California. Our work is to align and mobilize resources to support this vision.
Over the last three years we have developed deep relationships and learned immeasurably from and with our organizing and funding partners. Through this work we have experienced humility in listening and knowing that our role in philanthropy is to show up as a partner, organize resources, to lift community voices and amplify the vision and demands of grassroots power-building organizations.
As more foundations step into supporting systems change and power-building strategies, it is imperative that as a sector we do our own work to shift power to communities, and continue to dismantle harmful philanthropic practices that perpetuate injustice. The recent influx of funder interest in power-building should not come with a boom of top-down philanthropic solutions that distract from the voices and priorities of people who are most impacted.
This is a historic moment that calls for us to take bold action, leverage our resources towards systems change and invest to win. After all, we have a mandate from communities we partner with to use all points of leverage that we have in philanthropy to pursue transformative approaches that will achieve housing for all in California.
We are excited to join growing efforts that reimagine a world in which all communities, particularly those who have historically faced racism and discrimination, have the power to lead and experience joy, justice, equity and well-being in neighborhoods where they have access to an affordable, safe and stable place to call home.
In community and solidarity,
Jazmin Segura
Director, Fund for an Inclusive California
This is a historic moment that calls for us to take bold action, leverage our resources towards systems change and invest to win. After all, we have a mandate from communities we partner with to use all points of leverage that we have in philanthropy to pursue transformative approaches that will achieve housing for all in California.
We are excited to join growing efforts that reimagine a world in which all communities, particularly those who have historically faced racism and discrimination, have the power to lead and experience joy, justice, equity and well-being in neighborhoods where they have access to an affordable, safe and stable place to call home.
In community and solidarity,
Jazmin Segura
Director, Fund for an Inclusive California