Join MCF's Expanded People of Color & LGBTQ+ Community of Practice

The Minnesota Council on foundations (MCF) announces the evolution of our People of Color Network into the People of Color & LGBTQ+ Community of Practice. The expansion is one outcome resulting from our 2024 theory of change process.

An Invitation to Join Our People of Color and LGBTQ+ Community of Practice

If you or members of your team identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and/or LGBTQ+ and aren't yet part of our community of practice, we welcome you to join this expanded community. Current People of Color Network members helped shape our 2025 programming through their input at our December 6th visioning forward session, and have already received program details on January 16th.

INTENDED RESULTS

By participating in the Community of Practice, members will: 

• Build skills and grow capacity for "leadership without easy answers" by practicing together - from navigating AI systems through cultural wisdom to building relationships across power and position
• Learn across generations about different approaches to wielding influence, tending to relationships, and leading change
• Grow through identity-centered explorations that honor distinct experiences - from Black joy to flourishing queer in philanthropy, from rural and Native nation leadership to women of color and non-binary perspectives
• Connect meaningfully with peers across Minnesota through accessible virtual and in-person formats that bridge rural, urban, and Native nation communities 

Create conditions for learning and belonging in outcomes through:

• Intentional design of gathering spaces that center multiple identities and experiences
• Regular rhythm of connection points (in-person & virtual)
• Mix of structured learning and informal relationship building
• Structured opportunities for practicing difficult conversations, resources sharing and collective sense-making
• Multiple pathways for participation and contribution
• Anonymous reflection and feedback after each gathering, where themes are shared back with members along with how they shape the next leg of our learning journey together

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Join us for Our First Session

Decolonizing Artificial Intelligence: The Art of Being and Becoming Yourself As a Professional of Color and/or LGBTQ+ Leader in Philanthropy

March 5, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Virtual

At this session, we'll be challenging whose knowledge shapes these tools, questioning what gets measured and valued, and ensuring AI serves rather than supersedes our communities’ ways of knowing. We will be joined by our colleagues Anita Patel, Vice President of Grantmaking at Bush Foundation and Paul Bachleitner, Communications Director at Northwest Area Foundation, who will serve as our opening speakers and scouts, sharing a brief window from their storied careers in philanthropy. Learn more and register here.

Who Can Join

This space welcomes:

• Current People of Color Network members (already included)
• BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ professionals at MCF member organizations who aren't yet part of our community of practice

Important Context About Our Evolution

In a time when diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts face new challenges, such as the political climate, it's important to share that our evolution emerges from a different source: a deliberate six-month theory of change process that culminated in December 2024 with a 90-minute virtual design session with MCF members. Through deep work with our board, staff, DEI committee, select community nonprofits, and field practitioners, we gained clarity about what truly matters in our work.

We are evolving from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to Equity and Belonging (EB).

By leading with our desired outcomes (equity and belonging) and following with our methods (diversity and inclusion), we can be more intentional about measuring progress and allocating resources. This evolution also reshapes how we describe our work and Wally's leadership role in advancing these efforts. 

This new direction is in no way a reaction to today's political environment. At MCF, we're entering a new chapter in our organizational journey with clarity about our role and approaches to expanding the boundaries for equity and belonging. We're energized to co-discover and co-create with our members, staff, and partners int he field to build a just and equitable society where race no longer determines outcomes or predicts success.

Get Involved

1. Register for March 4th Launch session here
2. Join the People of Color and LGBTQ+ Community of Practice
3. Stay tuned for new opportunities to engage with our organizational learning and leadership development programs for equity and belonging.