We’re not just fixing a pipeline—we’re redesigning the system.

Our Pillars.

  • Pathway Development

    We’re not waiting for doors to open—we’re building new ones. Future Funders creates clear, intentional pathways to elevate BIPOC changemakers into executive and board roles. We nurture talent, refine purpose, and chart bold routes to power.

  • Mentorship & Support

    Great leadership isn’t just about talent—it’s about having the right people in your corner. We pair BIPOC leaders with visionary mentors and surround them with the tools, guidance, and encouragement to not only lead, but to thrive.

  • Talent Matching

    We don’t “place” leaders—we align purpose with opportunity. Through curated, trust-based matching, we connect foundations with extraordinary BIPOC candidates whose lived experience, values, and vision are built to lead transformational change.

  • Equity Best Practices

    Equity demands reflection and reinvention. We help foundations shift mindsets, policies, and culture—embedding equity not as a program, but as a design principle. From governance to grantmaking, we offer bold, creative strategies.

We target the ROOT CAUSES OF RACE-BASED FUNDING DISPARITIES

  • With 87% of foundation CEOs and 91% of board members being white, philanthropy remains locked in a cycle of exclusion. This lack of diverse leadership isn’t just a gap—it’s a structural barrier that limits philanthropy’s ability to understand, fund, and uplift diverse communities. If leadership doesn’t change, neither will funding patterns.

  • Research shows that philanthropy’s funding decisions are not neutral—they are shaped by deeply ingrained biases that consistently disadvantage BIPOC-led organizations. Funders consciously and unconsciously favor organizations that reflect their own racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, reinforcing existing power imbalances. To achieve equity, philanthropy must confront and correct these biases.

  • Philanthropy’s leadership pipelines for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) professionals are not just inadequate—they are failing. The false narrative of a “talent shortage” persists because the system hasn’t built pathways for BIPOC leaders to rise. Instead, many foundations remain stuck in performative diversity, offering token opportunities without embracing true power-sharing and systemic change.

Why We Focus on Family Foundations

Family foundations make up nearly two-thirds of all private foundations and control a significant share of philanthropic assets. Yet leadership at the CEO and board levels remains overwhelmingly white and insular. At the same time, more family foundations are seeking diverse leadership and opening seats to non-family trustees—recognizing that proximity, lived experience, and accountability drive equity. Future Funders sees this as a moment to redesign philanthropy from the inside out, placing bold, proximate leaders at the helm to transform decision-making and unlock more just, community-rooted giving.

Milestone Roadmap:

Laying the Path to 2030

    • Define Impact Strategy

    • Assemble Founders Table

    • Launch website

    • Open BIPOC Talent Pool Database

    • Begin outreach to leaders and foundations

    • Secure founding partners and seed funding

    • Publish sector insights brief

    • Launch pilot programming for BIPOC leaders

    • Co-design readiness tools for foundations

    • Begin first board and CEO placements

    • Collect early impact data

    • Secure multi-year institutional support

    • Expand recruitment and placements nationally

    • Deepen foundation partnerships and mentorship network

    • Launch alumni community and public dashboard

    • Host inaugural Future Funders Summit

    • Scale placement support systems and regional hubs

    • Launch innovation lab for foundation culture redesign

    • Introduce digital leadership development platform

    • Evaluate 3-year outcomes and publish learnings

    • Partner with major philanthropy networks to embed model

    • Publish equity benchmarks and leadership standards

    • Launch Foundation Pledge for Inclusive Governance

    • Scale up policy advocacy and narrative change efforts

    • Place 2,000+ BIPOC trustees and CEOs

    • Normalize pluralistic leadership in philanthropy

    • Cement systemic change in who leads—and how

HELP SHAPE A NEW ERA OF PHILANTHROPY

BIPOC Leaders

You belong at the helm of change. Join a powerful network, unlock transformative opportunities, and lead the future of philanthropy.

Foundations

Partner with us to access exceptional BIPOC talent and build leadership that reflects your constituents and values.