BFCF AnnualReport DONE - Flipbook - Page 7
After a whirlwind two years, we intentionally slowed down to be thoughtful about our strategic foundation,
recognizing that how we work is just as important as what we work on. For those 昀椀rst two years, we four
architects of the Fund had managed the work on a volunteer basis. To ensure the Fund’s viability, we
sacri昀椀ced rest, family time, and life opportunities. But as we brought in more funds and identi昀椀ed more
grantees, the work increased, and we recognized it was time to staff up. In 2022, we added a CEO to lead
and oversee the Fund (currently an interim managing director); a director of learning and community
engagement to build relationships and facilitate networking across the state; a director of partner
engagement and investment to focus on resourcing the Fund’s mission, and an administrative associate to
manage the day-to-day operations.
In addition, building on lessons learned from listening to communities around the state, we developed
a three-year strategic plan organized around four areas of impact: connecting Black communities for
collective power, promoting truthful Black narratives, investing in Black generational prosperity and wellbeing, and shifting the philanthropic paradigm.
“
Black people are accustomed to walking uphill, 昀椀ghting gravity for each
hard-won inch of progress. We wanted to reverse that societal gravity and
send funds 昀氀owing freely toward Black folks and communities. We wanted
to offer our people an experience of abundance that feels easy.
“
