As illustrated throughout this report, work towards racial justice and liberation is both complex and achievable. At its core, racial justice work is about catalyzing deep personal, interpersonal, cultural, and systemic transformations that ultimately enable all people—especially those most impacted by injustice—to thrive.

We hope that you are inspired by the wisdom and insights offered by each practitioner profiled in this report. The journeys shared here surface promising and tangible practices for organizations to implement as they move towards racial justice and liberation: the courage of critical conversations, the co-creation of brave spaces, and the traction of networked innovation. Importantly, these activities and practices must be applied thoughtfully and responsibly, and over an extended period of time.

Many of us have experienced the harmful impacts of quick-fix, “DEI” approaches to racial justice without proper lineage, preparation, and ongoing commitment. Sustained, long term commitment to this work and the guidance of—and investment in—trusted racial equity practitioners is critical. This is especially true amidst mounting backlash and mischaracterization of racial equity efforts. This is precisely the time to expand the capacity of racial equity practitioners, refine our collective methods and approaches to this work, and reinforce our commitment to this work across the board.

This report delivers a clear and urgent call to action for philanthropy: now is the time to both partner with and invest in racial equity practitioners. Their cross-sector expertise is evident: a deep understanding of the collective challenges our sector faces; a birds eye view, which enhances their collective sense making capacity; and a rich reservoir of ancestral wisdom and practices, which offer effective and healing pathways to racial justice. Funders have an indispensable role to play in resourcing racial equity practitioners to facilitate lasting social change. We owe these leaders unrestricted, multi-year grants, and a long runway to foster networked communities of practice to dismantle the oppressive systems stifling our lives. But it is not sufficient to just resource this work - funders must live it too. The philanthropic sector must prioritize shifting its relationship with grantees from control to mutual accountability.

The journey towards liberation demands deep transformation and alignment at various levels—within ourselves, across nonprofit and philanthropic institutions, and across the broader movement ecosystem. The transformation we seek in the world begins in the spaces we shape most: within ourselves, our relationships with one another, and the organizations we lead and serve. This work requires us to both unearth and unlearn the deep conditioning of white supremacy and racial capitalistism to build new models of leadership. As we navigate this journey together, let us understand that mistakes are inevitable. We encourage you to approach the uncomfortable, challenging, and emotional moments with vulnerability, use them as opportunities to create greater alignment towards our shared vision, and, ultimately, strengthen our collective resolve.

In the end, the responsibility for profound shifts in mindsets, cultures, and systems does not fall upon individuals alone. True liberation will rely on collective healing and co-creation across sectors, regions, and movements. It will require recognition of our interdependence, and accountability to one another. For nonprofits and organizations across the movement ecosystem, the path forward must be one of innovation and openness to failure and change. We must embrace new ideas with courage and creativity, and integrate racial equity principles into every facet of our operations, while actively participating in networked communities.

May the stories and tactics outlined in this report nourish our courage, and our creativity on the journey towards justice. May we have the audacity to vision beyond constraints, as we imagine and build new patterns, models, and worlds, brick by brick. Our collective liberation depends on it now more than ever.