In philanthropy, change rarely happens in isolation. It happens through relationships, through shared commitments, and through the courageous people who carry those commitments with them as they move across roles, organizations, and communities. Real transformation is powered by learning together, reflecting deeply, and acting boldly.
This is the spirit behind the Foundations of Racial Equity (FRE) Series—a collaborative learning journey designed to challenge assumptions, confront systemic anti-Black racism, and transform the ways we operate in philanthropy.
The FRE Series is co-led by Northern California Grantmakers (NCG), SoCal Grantmakers (SCG) and now proudly joined by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) as a national partner. Together, we’re offering a space for funders across the country to reflect, learn, and act in pursuit of racial equity and collective liberation.
Where It All Began
The FRE Series was originally developed in 2020 and emerged from an urgent belief that to dismantle systems of oppression, we must first understand them.
Our core premise remains simple, yet powerful:
To undo systemic racism, we must examine its foundations—specifically anti-Black racism and white supremacy—and understand how these forces show up in philanthropy itself.
For example, radical black joy revolutionary work that is not only about dismantling what’s broken—it’s about building what’s beautiful. Radical Black Joy reminds us that while anti-Black racism is real and ongoing, so is Black creativity, excellence and love. And that, too, is our work.
The FRE series invites movements like Radical Black Joy as a liberatory practice—an act of resistance and a declaration of worth. It affirms that Black people are whole, joyful, creative, powerful, and sacred. Embrace healing, imagination, and connection as essential tools in the movement toward justice.
What began as a California-rooted initiative launched in 2021 has since grown into a nationally relevant learning space. With the inclusion of GEO, we’ve evolved the curriculum to reflect broader, intersectional realities facing communities across the country, while remaining grounded in real, applicable tools for change.
Transformation Through Practice and Community
The FRE Series has recently shifted into a cohort-based model designed to foster connection and trust among participants as they move through five faculty-facilitated modules together.
But we know that real learning doesn’t just happen in presentations—it happens through conversation. That’s why we’ve included Integration Hours between each session: lightly facilitated, one-hour spaces for participants to reflect, share, and discuss how racial equity themes apply to their daily work, institutional culture, and sector-wide shifts.
This intentional format builds a sense of fellowship among change agents who are stretching to become their best selves—courageous enough to move through the discomfort that comes with deep transformation. Because on the other side of discomfort… is liberation.
Who Is FRE for?
All are welcome here, advocates and aspirants alike. Wherever you are on your racial equity journey, this space is for you. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your practice, the FRE Series meets you where you are—and supports you in taking the next step forward.
All functional areas are welcome, including operations, leadership, program staff and trustees. In fact, we encourage full teams to participate together, as the most lasting change happens across entire organizations, not just among individuals.
Our Partnership
SoCal Grantmakers: Championing Transformational Leadership through evolve
SCG supports racial equity through leadership and capacity-building via its evolve suite of programming, which helps funders lead with empathy, equity and clarity through three tiers of learning:
- evolve Professionally: Skill-based programs designed to strengthen grantmaking competencies.
- evolve Personally: Leadership cohorts and self-reflective practices that cultivate purpose and awareness.
- evolve Collaboratively: Peer-to-peer network that foster learning, connection, and community.
SCG believes the 21st-century philanthropic leader must be skilled, reflective and deeply aligned with justice-centered values. evolve and FRE walk hand-in-hand in this commitment.
Northern California Grantmakers: A Philanthropy-Transforming Organization
NCG may have been started by and for grantmakers, but today, they describe themselves as a philanthropy-transforming organization, with racial equity being their North Star.
NCG is not a foundation—we’re a nonprofit organization with a member base made up of donors, trustees, program officers, communicators, conveners, advocates and visionaries committed to reshaping the field of philanthropy. Their members are dynamic leaders committed to equity, justice, and progress. They believe in our collective power for good—and act on it, together.
Equity and Effectiveness: Why GEO Matters
GEO brings an essential dimension to the FRE Series: a commitment to practical, systemic and equitable change in philanthropy.
GEO champions a vision of philanthropy that is not only more effective, but more just. For GEO, transforming the sector is not about abstract theories—it’s about changing the everyday grantmaking practices that impact nonprofit leaders and the communities they serve.
At a time when the world faces profound challenges, philanthropy must use its creative autonomy, its resources, and its influence to help communities not only survive, but also imagine and build toward collective liberation. GEO’s work helps funders adopt trust-based, community-centered approaches that reflect this reality—and aligns powerfully with FRE’s purpose.
Let’s Learn. Let’s Evolve. Let’s Transform.
The Foundations of Racial Equity Series is more than a training—it’s a movement space. A space for reflection, community, truth, healing, and action. A space to challenge ourselves and each other and to become the leaders our sector and our communities need.
Because transforming philanthropy begins with transforming ourselves—and that begins here.
Join us. Bring your questions, your passion, your discomfort, your commitment—and let’s move toward equity together.
➡️ Learn more about the FRE Series
In her role as Program Manager, Partnerships, Afia Amobeaa-Sakyi cultivates partnerships that further GEO’s strategic framework, strengthen field presence and deliver impactful GEO programming. Afia comes with a rich record of engagement within the philanthropy serving ecosystem with over a decade of nonprofit/association experience.
Nicole Giles is the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator at Northern California Grantmakers. She supports the team through her focus on collaboration and coordination, and her desire to be conducive to NCG’s innovative and impactful work.
Sequoia Thompson supports the Vice President of Professional Learning & Family Philanthropy, by managing the development and implementation of programs and events in coordination with outside partners and other SoCal Grantmakers staff. She oversees programmatic, logistical, and administrative aspects of programs to support the Programs and Conferences team.