African diaspora can decolonize philanthropy from within

“Sometimes people try to destroy you, precisely because they recognize your power — not because they don’t see it, but because they see it and they don’t want it to exist.”― bell hooks

In the midst of the current conversations around decolonizing aid, white saviorism, and shifting power in international development, there is recognized value in giving those from the global south a larger voice in the way funding is allocated. But there have also been more muted conversations about the experience of people of color working within Western philanthropic organizations, which frequently do not harmonize with the greater movement.

I landed in philanthropy by accident. I came into this field after more than a decade with INGOs working in the women’s rights and social justice realm. Most of my professional experience until then had been in culturally sensitive environments, working with teams that celebrated differences and promoted diverse leadership. As a global citizen with deep roots in Senegal, I not only felt welcome, but was in fact often reminded that my regional expertise, skills, and lived experience had distinct value. I rarely experienced racism within my teams and was able to grow and thrive professionally.

I was little prepared for the very different world of philanthropy. I entered the field a bit naïve, idealistic, and, frankly, unaware of the widely different culture of private foundations, specifically in the United States. I assumed that I would leverage my regional expertise to influence international grant-making strategies. The reality I faced, as that of others with whom I have spoken, has been quite different.

In my seven years working within private, U.S.-based philanthropy, I have had the benefit of interacting with many other philanthropic organizations and networking with those who work for, with, and within, those organizations. Here is what I have learned. Read more