iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility

We’re thrilled to welcome Zahra Wardick (they/he) as iF’s new Program Associate! With their passion, skills, and commitment to advancing racial and economic justice, Zahra will undoubtedly play a vital role in driving our work forward. At iF, we are daring to reimagine what’s possible for Black people and people of the global majority in the DC region. The Program Associate position is a key part of that vision, supporting our programs, communications, and partnerships to create powerful, community-driven change. We can’t wait to see the impact Zahra will have at the Foundation and the communities we serve. Join us in giving Zahra a warm welcome! 🖤

At the Compton Foundation’s #GatheringByTheRiver: A Relational Repair Convening, iF Co-CEO, Temi F. Bennett, Esq. joined former Threshold Philanthropy Co-CEO, Morgan E. Dawson, and Justice Funders for an impactful conversation on the power—and limits—of institutional philanthropy in advancing repair. This interactive reflection highlighted the urgent need for healing and transformation in the context of settler colonialism and harm in the U.S. Together, we’re building connections, deepening understanding, and inspiring action to create systems rooted in repair. 🖤 Big gratitude to the Compton Foundation for hosting this transformative gathering and to all who participated!

Big congrats to Temi F. Bennett, Esq. and crew on the incredible documentary Diminished Returns: The Black Wealth Gap in Washington DC! As a transplant, I learned so much about the history of DC as "a colony of Congress carved out of slave states," and the way Black families were systematically displaced and had their land stolen via racist policies like eminent domain. The film and featured speakers at this week's film screening hosted by iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) emphasized reparations for repair of historic harms, statehood as a racial justice issue, and that #philanthropy can't fund real systemic change in community safety and education without addressing poverty and root causes of the racial wealth gap. Watch the trailer here: https://lnkd.in/e6ZWq4Xc

“We’ve seen the impact that guaranteed income has had across the country,” shared Mandi Koba, Program Officer for Economic Mobility at The Community Foundation. “Now we have a chance to explore the impact that it has had – and will hopefully continue to have in the DMV!” Earlier this month, The Community Foundation gathered with guaranteed income advocates from across the region to discuss how to amplify the effects of guaranteed income pilots in the Greater Washington region. Bread for the City, Mothers Outreach Network, iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, Fairfax County Government, Arlington Community Foundation, ACT for Alexandria, City of Alexandria, Virginia, My Sister's Place, DC, United Communities Against Poverty, Inc., Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/ Prince George's County, Montgomery County Government https://lnkd.in/esYtcyCE

Our co-CEOs Temi F. Bennett, Esq. and Hanh Le were recognized at Wednesday’s Spur Local #CommunityChangemakers event with the 2024 Barbara Harman Changemakers in Philanthropy Award! This honor celebrates their commitment to the fight for racial justice and community-centered philanthropy. In their remarks, our co-CEOs spoke about daring to reimagine what’s possible in our work and the critical need for resilience and sustainability during this sociopolitical moment. “To us, 'iF' means possibilities; What iF we centered Black people? What iF we told the truth about history? These are a few of the possibilities we've made a reality,” said Temi. “It is critical for all of us to use our power to advance racial justice in a committed and sustained way, especially all of us in philanthropy and especially right now,” noted Hanh. Together, we are making strides toward iF’s vision of self-determined, thriving communities. Thank you to Spur Local and everyone who joined us in celebrating this moment. Join us as we continue this journey to advance racial justice in the D.C. region!

The iF team is excited to welcome Angel (El) Thompson as our inaugural #RacialJusticeFellow. With a deep and demonstrated commitment to racial justice, El will be working across all facets of the foundation from grantmaking and policy change to strategic partnerships and communications. In this two-year fellowship, El will help us push boundaries, including designing a capstone project that advances racial justice in ways that are bold, visionary, and community-centered. Welcome, El!

Visit us tonight at the giving circle table at Spur Local's CommunityChangemakers, where we're presenting a pop-up giving circle in partnership with Philanos, Giving Together, Cherry Blossom Giving Circle, Collective 365, Impact100 DC, Next Gen Giving Circle, and Tanna Fund at Ìpàdé. WHEN: October 30 @ 6pm (TONIGHT!) WHERE: Hook Hall, 3400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC TICKETS: www.dcchangemakers.org Also on the program: 🙌 Meet local nonprofits working on environmental issues, food justice, housing equity, youth education, arts & culture, and more. 🙌 Honor Spur Local's 2024 Changemakers, Hanh Le and Temi F. Bennett, Esq. at iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, Kim D. Jones at Montgomery County Black Collective, and Emma Asante at NBCUniversal. 🙌 Enjoy delicious Timber Pizza Co.! Photo: Fleur Louise Photography at Hook Hall, from last year's Community Changemakers event

In just one week, iF’s Co-CEOs Temi F. Bennett, Esq. and Hanh Le will be recognized as Spur Local’s 2024 Barbara Harman #ChangemakersinPhilanthropy! Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the #CommunityChangemakers 2024 event on Wednesday, October 30, at 6 p.m. at Hook Hall. Save your spot to join Temi, Hanh, and their fellow changemaker nominees Kim D. Jones at Montgomery County Black Collective and Emma Asante at NBC4 Washington. https://lnkd.in/e866FBeY

To be truly committed to social and racial justice, philanthropy must engage in radical truth telling. Being honest about where wealth comes from – often from the extracted labor of Black folks – is the only way philanthropy can attempt to right historical wrongs. We are proud to stand alongside philanthropic peers like iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, whose recent report has outlined what philanthropy must do to reckon with the past in a way that generates Black healing. https://lnkd.in/e6y5zmfA

The iF team is sending a heartfelt thank you and best wishes to our 2024 #HBCU summer intern Amniche Guerin! Amniche’s landscape scan and literature review of guaranteed income pilots across the country will help inform the advocacy strategy for Let’s GO DMV!, our GI pilot program centering hospitality workers in the DMV who continue to be impacted by COVID-19. We wish you all the best in your next chapter, Amniche – we know you’ll continue to make powerful moves to advance racial justice. To learn more about Amniche visit: https://lnkd.in/eW56Q42D