Introducing the Reimagining Horizons programme
We created a space, in collaboration with Future Foundations UK and Ten Years Time, to increase the retention of Black and Minoritised staff in the funding sector and improving internal organisational culture. Here’s how it went!
“‘It’s a real struggle. We’ve lost a few people from Black and Minoritised backgrounds over the last year. The [philanthropic] culture has not necessarily been there to support them to be themselves. There’s definitely a trend and there’s something around the culture of funders that they have to address.’ ”
In 2020, we produced a scoping to better understand their role in increasing Black and Minoritised representation at all levels of the funding sector and improving internal organisational culture. The quote above was one of the many stories we heard about the treatment and experience of Black and Minoritised people in our sector.
Based on these testimonies, we teamed up with Future Foundations UK (FFUK) and Ten Years Time to create a programme - ‘Reimagining Horizons’ - to support Black and Minoritised staff working within Trusts and Foundations.
What is Reimagining Horizons?
The Reimagining Horizons programme evolved from two focus groups composed of members of FREA, FFUK and Black and Minoritised people working within the funding sector. Through these focus groups we gained a deeper understanding of the nuances and dynamics of the sector and how Black and Minoritised staff navigate these. It is important to note that we offered participants after-care support.
Reimagining Horizons was created as a ‘by and for’ programme in response to the number of people who continue to experience negative racialised experiences of working in philanthropy. The programme successfully ran from 22 September 2023 to 6 December 2023 and welcomed 16 participants.
Facilitated by Dorett Jones, the sessions and speakers included:
Do It Now Now and Sidney Hargro: Radical Philanthropy as Practice
Baljeet Sandhu: Asserting Lived Experience
Melvyna Mumunie: Navigating HR and Support
Amahra Spence and Wongani Mwanza: Community Wealth Building Workshop
Marai Larrasi: Replenishing Self with Project Tallawah
The participants selected had a range of experience within the sector, from interns to managers, coordinators and officers – working in:
Communications
Grant-making
Organising
Programmes.
And much more…
They came from organisations such as Civic Power Fund, John Laing Charitable Trust, London Marathon Foundation, Sport England, BBC Children in Need, Colourful Impact, Justice Together, City Bridge Trust, Coop Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Key Fund Investments, Henry Smith Charity, and People’s Health Trust.
The programme was over-subscribed: we received over 50 applications and could only take 16 participates. This highlights the lack of spaces like Reimagining Horizons and the need for future programmes.
The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. One participant commented:
“‘The course has been everything I didn’t know I needed’. ”
What have we learned?
We also asked participants how we could improve the programme. Based on what they said, here are three of the recommendations for the next iteration of the programme, which build on its successes:
Increased resourcing for the next cohort to allow for in-person convening.
Addressing the absence of Chief executives, Directors and Trustees
Implementing the programme across trusts and foundations as a resource for Black and Minoritised staff.
What’s next?
We very much hope we can repeat and build on the programme in 2025. We believe this programme would be a crucial asset to any organisation committed to empowering, supporting and retaining its Black and Minoritised staff, as well as building its own cultural competencies and improved grant making.
If you would like to contribute to or support this important work, please get in touch by contacting frealliance@equallyours.org.uk.