Nsombi B. Ricketts

Getting involved on a Board is a great way to expand your leadership. #leadershipdevelopment

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Shifting our focus to the incredible innovation and creativity within Black communities is essential for impactful philanthropy. 🖤 Black Funding Principle 8 advocates for a strength-based funding model that recognizes and amplifies Black innovation, creativity, and culture. This approach not only celebrates cultural expression but also fosters shared vision, resilience, and innovative solutions to both community and global challenges. 🌍 For donors looking to make a meaningful impact, this principle means actively seeking out and supporting Black innovators and creatives. It’s about acknowledging that Black creativity is a powerful catalyst for addressing complex issues and driving transformative change. By adopting a strength-based model, we empower individual talents and contribute to a collective future built on resilience and novel solutions. ✨ Supporting Black innovation isn't just a gesture—it's a commitment to reshaping the future of philanthropy.  🚀 #EquitableFunding #blackfounders

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Economic development starts with intentional support. 🌿 The 3rd Black Funding Principle calls for a significant increase in capital from philanthropy, social investment, venture capital, and other funds to uplift Black small-to-medium-sized businesses and start-ups. As a donor looking to maximize impact, partnering with a philanthropic advisor can help us embrace this principle and drive economic security in Black communities. 🚀 How can we put this principle into action? Let's actively seek out and invest in Black-owned enterprises and start-ups. By channeling capital towards these businesses, we not only foster economic resilience but also create a foundation for sustained growth. This is a tangible way to bridge the equity gap and support Black entrepreneurs to thrive. 🌍 The call for increased capital aligns with the mission to reshape funding dynamics for lasting impact. We can turn this principle into practice, contributing to the economic security and prosperity of Black communities together. #CommunityDriven #BlackPhilanthropy #TransformativeChange

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It's time to shift our perspectives for transformative impact. 💥 The Black Funding Principles call on donors to adopt a social justice lens in funding decisions. Partnering with a philanthropic advisor can help to leverage this principle to tackle the root causes of inequity and drive long-lasting change. 💡 🌀 Embracing this principle means looking beyond surface-level solutions. It’s about understanding and addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate inequality. By funding with a social justice lens, we pave the way for comprehensive, transformative change that goes beyond traditional boundaries. Adopting a social justice lens is pivotal in reshaping the narrative and impact of our funding. Committing to this principle is recognizing that a socially just approach is key to breaking the cycles of inequity. 🖤 #BlackPhilanthropy #fundingprinciples

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If you are in NYC for Climate Week, join People's Justice Council Executive Director Rev Michael Malcom at the Black Youth Leaders Summit for Climate and Environmental Justice Day. This event is brought to you by The Black Hive of The Movement for Black Lives. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e-C4WqMk #ActOnClimate #climateweeknyc #nyc #environmentaljustice #climatejustice

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Empowering Black Women and Girls in the Face of Resistance Recent legal and financial challenges faced by organizations such as the Fearless Fund reveal the precarious state of DEI initiatives in today’s climate. These challenges underscore the importance of steadfastly supporting DEI policies and programs that promote equitable opportunities and level the playing field. Our efforts to support the Equity for Black Women and Girls Initiative are not just about addressing current inequities; they are about investing in a future where Black women and girls have the tools and opportunities to thrive. By advocating for the preservation and expansion of DEI policies, we ensure that such transformative initiatives can succeed and create lasting impact. In the face of resistance, we will persevere, championing systemic change and upholding our dedication to a just and equitable society. We are committed to fostering environments where Black women and girls can lead, innovate, and flourish, advancing the promise of equity and justice for all. Through this commitment, we strive to uphold the legacy of Black philanthropy and drive meaningful, enduring progress. We ask you to "be brave, be fearless!” Please join RCF Connects in the fight. It's imperative that we convene to explore solutions, share strategies, and strengthen our collective resolve in promoting equitable opportunities and leveling the playing field. Here is the link to register! We hope to see you there! https://lnkd.in/g_3jJaFX

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Black-Led Nonprofit Leaders, Are you in need of matching funds for your organization? Consider adding BackBlack to your list. Tag Black-Led organizations below #nonprofit #funding

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Are you a leader at an HBCU? Please join our webinar next week to learn about how you can help Council for Advancement and Support of Education and TIAA build best practices in advancement! (I know this is a passion ❤️ for many in advancement so please pass along to colleagues you know in this space!)

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Racial wealth gaps haven't budged in decades. While that's disheartening, we can all be part of much needed change. Advancing equitable practices in our workplaces that promote fairer hiring, compensation, and advancement can close economic inequities at the heart of persistent wealth gaps. Learn more below and help make the change you want to see in the world.

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Who will be the superpowers of philanthropy in the next 25 years? Who will have the capacity and resources to influence social, economic, and political arenas? The answer is women. Historically, women have always played crucial roles in philanthropy. Early social service work was seen as “women’s work.” Female philanthropy started with parochial institutions, where nuns, deaconesses, and women of all faiths offered comfort to the marginalized in their communities. Now, with women holding more than half of private wealth in the U.S. and the capacity to influence global change, their impact is poised to grow exponentially. Despite progress, support for women's and girls' organizations remains low, receiving just 1.8% of charitable giving. However, women are stepping up to fill this gap, often giving broadly, holistically, and collectively. They focus on aligning their passion with their resources, working collaboratively, and demanding transparency about the impact of their contributions. Women’s philanthropy offers vast opportunities: from supporting traditional nonprofits to becoming angel investors and engaging in impact investing. In my role as a philanthropic advisor, I work to help women donors align their values with their charitable giving, grow their confidence and celebrate their achievements. #PhilanthropyConcierge #WDM2024 #WomensPhilanthropy #WomenInLeadership https://lnkd.in/gSZhsadi

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What talents and skills would you like to leverage in your career? Professionally, I am a director of talent development and I have designed programs and initiatives to help families have access to the resources they need to thrive in cities and states throughout the United States. Personally, I am a musician and poet. Here is how I have connected my professional and personal worlds. ⬇️ 🎹🗣️🎤 Recently, I decided to incorporate the piano and poetry into some of my speaking engagements. Initially, it was difficult to simultaneously merge both art forms but it has proven to significantly enhance the audience’s experience and my ability to communicate an impactful message. This style of storytelling has been thought provoking in settings where I speak about issues related to social justice, DEI, and families. In the words of Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” #Storytelling #PublicSpeaking #TalentDevelopment #Leadership #Philanthropy #NonProfit #SocialJustice #DEI #Poetry #MusicAndPoetry #ProfessionalGrowth #PersonalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #CreativeLeadership #HumanConnection

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I am getting a little cranky with the charity sector… To be clear, I am not cranky about what is getting done - I am cranky about what is *not getting done*. Aren’t you getting a little cranky too? I do not mean to imply anything negative to all of those working, volunteering, donating, and supporting current charitable organizations. I can’t imagine what our communities would look like without you all - *Thank you* 🙏. However, Canada has a growing “charity gap” which is affecting millions of struggling Canadians, our deteriorating environment, the animal kingdom, and so on. We have a right to be cranky. The status quo is not good enough. We need to do things differently, with greater urgency ⏰. This is what is at the core of GIV3’s new “Mutare” Initiative. Mutare is Latin for “move, change, shift”.  I’m writing a series of small articles to outline a path to fruition, and to encourage a narrative in support of a more effective social sector. I will present some proposed incremental solutions. This is something GIV3 will be actively pursuing.  This is not a journey about wishful holistic transformation. Instead, I will focus on our realities, the importance of a sector-wide strategic plan, and the importance of “good politics”. In fact, we have already started with some strategy research among sector thought-leaders. A summary will be shared. I ask you to join and amplify the narrative, in your own voice in your own network. 👉 Please help get the word out, and build some momentum. I welcome your thoughts, comments, and “Likes”. We can’t achieve this alone. Follow along on our new website here: https://lnkd.in/eEXN6VpD Thank *you*! John #GIV3 #Charity #Philanthropy #volunteer #Futureofgood #governmentofcanada #corporateimpact

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REPORT REVEALS NYC GOVERNMENT PAYS WOMEN OF COLOUR LESS THAN WHITE AND MALE COLLEAGUES The report shows city employees who identify as Black, Latino, or Asian earn an average of 84 cents for every $1 that white city employees make. For gender-related disparities, for every $1 that white male city workers make, other city employees only make 82 cents on average. Women of colour make up over two-thirds of the overall racial pay gap among government employees. Between the 2018 and 2021 fiscal year, women of colour received the smallest increase in their pay gaps with white male workers—up 3.8% or less. “In contrast, white female employees, Black or African American male employees, and male employees who identify as Other race/ethnicity saw the largest reduction of their pay gap over this period,” the report reads. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), NYPD, and FDNY were highlighted as the agencies with the largest racial/ethnic pay gaps. Between ABHLO (Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino and Other Race/Ethnicities) and white employees, DCAS has the largest pay gap, with a difference of $28,065.16. The first responder agencies come in second place with pay differences of $24,539 and $27,766, respectively. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) also ranked as agencies with large racial pay gaps, with DEP’s difference at $16,089.52 and DOT’s difference at $15,716.20.

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Black Girl Environmentalist is launching a fellowship program specifically for early career Black women and gender expansive persons in the United States! The Fellowship is designed to attract and support Black women and gender-expansive rising juniors, rising seniors, and recent college graduates with demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the environmental and/or climate sectors. More detail at their site below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gz2sSchE #climate #climatejobs #environment #environmentaljobs #environmentaljustice #climatejustice

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I love what I get to do for work and who I get to do it with! My nonprofit just published its 2023 Annual Report. We conduct rigorous analysis and synthesize high-quality research so nonprofits, philanthropists, and decision-makers have the insights to make the most effective poverty-fighting decisions. I invite you to review the report to learn more about what I do.

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We all want to be able to put healthy food on the table for ourselves and our families. But many of us face significant barriers to doing so. This week, Congress is again considering cuts to #SNAP, a policy that is proven to improve food access and reduce poverty. This comes at a time when new research from the Urban Institute shows that current SNAP benefits are not keeping up with rising food costs. The study—funded by RWJF—shares the latest data on the gap between meal costs and SNAP participants’ monthly benefits, a gap that remained high in 2023 despite that year’s cost-of-living adjustment to benefits. It is so important that we look at the numbers and see the reality of families’ experiences on this vital program! https://lnkd.in/ekiVjH7n

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Thank you Linda Wood and The LeadersTrust team for your leadership in lifting up this critical intervention of raising independent revenue in the field. With rising fascism and backlash on our power building/wielding work across the country, we need to make some critical shifts in our mindset and practices. In particular, we need to prepare for and support the growing number of multi-entity organizations in the country that are building self determination and preparing to govern. Here are 6 mindset shifts from the report. For the full report click here https://shorturl.at/dLbc5 SHIFT #1: “INDEPENDENT REVENUE SUPPORTS SELF-DETERMINATION AND FREEDOM.” Individual giving offers organizations the flexibility to act on urgent needs and priorities, and to take advantage of emerging opportunities, without the restrictions of foundation grants or government contracts. SHIFT #2: “ORGANIZING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND RESOURCE GENERATION ARE NOT SEPARABLE.” Fundraising is organizing, and messaging and digital commu- nications are crucial to both. SHIFT #3: “RAISING RESOURCES IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.” Development directors cannot do this work alone; organizations and movements need to build and sustain the fundraising capacity of their entire board and staff teams. SHIFT #4: “ORGANIZATIONS AND MOVEMENTS APPROACH FUNDRAISING WITH AN ‘INVESTMENT MINDSET.’” Shared responsibility for fundraising starts with a deeper understanding of all sources of an organization’s revenue, as well as the costs and returns associated with each one. SHIFT #5: “WE TRANSFORM HOW WE THINK AND FEEL ABOUT MONEY AND FUNDRAISING.” Asking for money doesn’t come easy for everyone. As we broaden responsibility for resource development, it’s important to understand our varying experiences and perspectives vis-à-vis money, while reframing fundraising so it’s not about scarcity. SHIFT #6: “FUNDRAISING CAN BE ABOUT LOVE RATHER THAN CHARITY.” Placing love and belonging at the heart of fundraising can make it more empowering and lead to greater success. Shifting from a charity frame expands the possibilities of who belongs, how they contribute, and what it looks like when we all win.

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What does voter suppression look like? How often do we recognize when it’s happening in our neighborhoods? Join Healing Equity United’s webinar to learn what actions you can take for election protection in your communities. #elections #voting #electionprotection #bias

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